Swimming: Newport swimmers do well at junior nationals

ANCHORAGE, Ala. - Newport Harbor High swimmers placed solidly in

the United States Junior National Championships.

For the Newport girls, freshman Nicole Mackey, swimming for Irvine

Aquazots, won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.72, her sixth

Olympic qualifying time standard. She also won the 500 freestyle in

4:52.73. Mackey lost the 200 free by less than half a second, coming in

as the runner-up in 1:49.56. Jennifer Arrow of Aquazots swam the 200

breaststroke in 2:28.35.

Freshman Hayley Peirsol of Irvine Novaquatics was third in the 500

freestyle with a time of 4:55.08. She missed qualifying for the senior

nationals by one second in both the 1,000 free and 400 IM, finishing in

10:02.24 and 4:24.78 respectively.

Newport sophomore Ryan Lean of Novaquatics almost achieved his senior

national standards in two events. He was seventh in the 50 free with a

time of 4:33.82. He was 10th in the 1,000 free with a 9:25.52.

Newport sophomore Aaron Peirsol, representing Novaquatics, will compete

in the U.S. National Championships on March 28.