Girls swim: A full plate

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High girls swim coach Ken Lamont is

like a gourmet chef in a well-stocked kitchen. With all the ingredients

at his disposal, it remains merely an exercise of imagination to bring

them to the ultimate competitive boil.

And if Thursday’s decisive 119-51 nonleague league over visiting El Toro

is any indication, Lamont has all but finalized the Sailors’ recipe for

success.

“Every meet is different; there’s no cookie-cutter lineup I use,” Lamont

said. “I try to keep all the events covered. Every place I put girls

today, they did what they had to do.”

That would be an understatement for the Sailors, who won all 11 events

against a Charger squad missing three-time national champion Kaitlin

Sandeno.

With Sandeno preparing for meets on a grander scale, including the

upcoming Olympic trials, the Sailors’ stable of club swimmers ambushed

their former Sea View League rivals.

Freshmen Nicole Mackey and Hayley Peirsol, as well as sophomore Carley

Geehr, each took part in four event victories to produce the lopsided

decision.

Mackey won the 100-yard butterfly (59.31) and the 100 freestyle (54.49).

She was also on the winning medley and 200 free relay units.

Peirsol topped the field in the 200 individual medley (2:13.52) and the

500 free (5:16.87) and swam on both freestyle relays.

Geehr, a Pasadena transfer who returned last week after sitting out with

a torn rotator cuff, won the 200 free (1:52.65) and the 100 backstroke

(1:01.31). She also took part in both free relay triumphs.

Senior Amy Murphy won the 50 free (26.31) and was on the winning medley

and 200 free relays. She was also second in the 200 free.

Junior Jennifer Arrow won the 100 breaststroke (1:08.26) and was on the

winning medley relay. She was third in the 200 IM.

Freshman Jenna Murphy was on the 200 free relay quartet, was second in

the 200 IM and third in the 100 backstroke.

Junior Erin Ball was on the winning 400 relay and was second in the 100

free and the 100 backstroke to help the Tars improve to 3-2.

“Nothing really stood out today,” Lamont said. “I thought everyone did a

nice job. We’re at the stage of the season when everyone is starting to

prepare for league finals and CIF.”

The addition of Geehr has helped add flexibility to the lineup. Lamont

said.

“I’ve been experimenting with it, but we’ve only got a couple meets left,

so it’s close to being solidified. Having Carley back is really nice. It

gives me another option when I massage the lineup.”

Lamont said he was disappointed Sandeno wasn’t on hand Thursday, but he

understands her priorities are on bigger competition.

“It would have been fun for our kids to swim against her,” Lamont said.