Swimming: Peirsol clutches PR in national championships

CLOVIS - Newport Harbor High junior Hayley Peirsol shaved off eight

seconds from her first-heat swim when she took sixth in the 800-yard

freestyle at U.S. Phillips 66 National Championships in Clovis Tuesday.

Her personal best time of 8:42.63 means that she is No. 6 in the

nation and the time was just one second short of qualifying for the

Goodwill Games.

Peirsol, who swims for Irvine Novaquatics, will compete in the 400

individual medley today and the 400 free on Friday.

Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett finished 11th in the race.

Newport senior Ryan Lean finished 18th in the 800 free (8:16.72).

Aaron Peirsol, Hayley’s older brother, will race in the 100 backstroke

Friday and compete in relays Saturday.