Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Hayley Peirsol

Barry Faulkner

Hayley Peirsol may enjoy high school swimming more for what it does

not offer than what it does.

The Newport Harbor High junior clearly savors the social aspect of

competing with her classmates, as well as the opportunity to race in

events not considered her forte in the more specialized club swimming

environment. But, with only one individual race longer than 200 yards --

the 500 freestyle -- there looms no possibility for what she

contemptuously calls “33 laps of pain.”

That descriptive phrase identifies the marathon of competitive

freestyle swimming, which covers 1,650 yards or 1,500 meters and is

commonly referred to as the mile.

It is, at once, the bane of Peirsol’s competitive existence and the

inspiration for a grueling training regimen that routinely requires her

to log 16,000 yards a day (broken down into two workouts).

“You never get used to it and I’m never going to be able to like it,”

Peirsol said of her longest race. My (Novaquatics distance coach Brent

Lorenzen) might kill me for saying this, but I can’t get excited for that

race. It’s just so long, it doesn’t matter whether you go slow or fast,

it’s going to hurt. After the race, you can barely get out of the water.

But when it’s done, you’re so happy it’s over with.”

Peirsol said she routinely overcomes this cynicism with the help of

her club teammates, who lure her to daily workouts with the simple

pleasures of friendship. Her fellow distance swimmers also form an

exclusive support group, the members of which frequently share their

frustrations over the hardships brought on by the monotonous and

demanding workouts needed to sustain their elite fitness level.

“Without those people, I wouldn’t still be swimming,” said Peirsol,

who began competing at age 5 and plans to continue at least through

college. “Being with your friends can really make training fun,

especially dry-land training. In the water, we’re always encouraging each

other to get through the next set.”

Peirsol needs no prompting to bolster the lineup for Newport Harbor,

for which she sparkled in a pair of Sea View League dual meets last week.

The two-time defending Sea View champion in the 500 free, who was

third that event at the CIF Southern Section Division I finals last

spring, Peirsol won the 200 individual medley against Laguna Hills and

Irvine. She won the 100 butterfly and was on the victorious 400 free

relay in the Sailors’ 89-81 triumph over Laguna Hills, April 11.

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the week also won the 500 free Friday

against Irvine, which defeated the Tars, 109-61.

“I try to go to as many high school meets as I can and I try to have

fun,” said Peirsol, who finished second in the 800-meter free at the

national championships March 19 in Minneapolis. She was also third in the

mile and second in the 400 IM in Minnesota. “I swim in whatever events

coach (Ken LaMont) puts me and I don’t really worry about times.”

LaMont worries little about Peirsol’s effort, or her ability to

dominate prep foes with any stroke.

“She’s very good in all the strokes, which makes her a very good

IMer,” LaMont said. “I can use her almost anywhere and she’s still going

to be very successful. I try not to pigeonhole her into the same two

events every meet.”

LaMont said Peirsol’s success stems from her work ethic, as well as an

uncommon competitive desire.

“She’s very devoted to training with her club and she spends a lot of

time in the pool,” LaMont said. “She’s also a very good racer. She always

brings a strong competitive attitude to any race.”

Peirsol, whose older brother Aaron holds three world records, as well

as silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke from the 2000 Olympics, did

not surprise LaMont with her strong showing in Minnesota.

“I think people who don’t know her may have been surprised,” LaMont

said. “But it wasn’t a big surprise to her coaches.”