Swimming: Locals fare well at Swim Meet of Champions

MISSION VIEJO - After a back-scraping victory in the 200-meter

backstroke, Newport Harbor High standout Aaron Peirsol maintained a nice,

straight path to victory in the 100 back during the 2001 Swim Meet of

Champions this past weekend at the Marguerite Recreation Center.

Peirsol, the Olympic silver medalist who banged into the outside lane

barrier during the finals of the 200 back, edged out Canadian Mark

Versfeld and won the race in 57.18. He also placed third in the 200

individual medley (2:11.62) and sixth in the 200 free (1:54.48).

Aaron’s sister, Hayley Peirsol, placed fourth in the 1,500 free with a

time of 17:06.93.

Another Sailor teammate, Nicole Mackey, finished fifth in the 100

butterfly (1:04.58) and 400 IM (4:59.52) and sixth in the 200 IM

(2:22.59).

Ryan Lean, an upcoming senior for the Sailors, placed sixth in the

1,500 free (16:12.34) and seventh in the 800 free (8:24.64).

Aaron Peirsol’s backstroke partner in crime, Andrew Cole also

qualified for the 100 back championship finals and placed eighth in

1:00.77.