Girls swimming: Sailors impressive at prelims

SANTA ANA - The Newport Harbor High girls swim team, with sophomore

transfer Carley Geehr competing for the first time, put itself in

position to contend for the team title at the Foothill Games

preliminaries Thursday at Foothill High.

Geehr, who had been sidelined with injury after transferring from

Pasadena, qualified first for Saturday’s finals in the 100-yard

breaststroke and third in the 100 backstroke. She was also on the 200

medley relay quartet which qualified first with a season-best 1:52.40.

“She’s been itching to compete,” Newport Coach Ken LaMont said of Geehr,

a club swimmer sidelined since December.

Freshman Nicole Mackey qualified first in the 200 individual medley

(2:05.55) and second in the 100 butterfly. She was on the medley relay

team and also anchored the 400 freestyle relay unit which qualified

second, matching its season best (3:42.20).

Freshman Hayley Peirsol, who was on the 400 free relay, qualified second

in the 500 free (5:05) and third in the 200 IM.

Junior Jennifer Arrow qualified second in the 100 breaststroke and also

swam on the medley relay, while senior Amy Murphy swam on both relays and

qualified fifth in the 100 free.

Junior Erin Ball swam on the freestyle relay and qualified 11th in the

100 backstroke.

The top six qualifiers made the championship final, while the next six

will swim for the consolation crown.

Boys preliminaries are today and both boys and girls will swim in the

finals, which begin Saturday at 1 p.m.