Peirsol defeats gold medalist

Aaron Peirsol, the Newport Harbor High product who is the

world-record holder in the 200-meter backstroke, narrowly defeated

2000 Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg to win the

much-anticipated event at the Janet Evans Invitational Friday at USC.

Peirsol finished in 1:59.09, while Krayzelburg, the former

world-record holder, finished in 1:59.33.

It was the first race that featured Peirsol vs. Krayzelburg since

the 2000 Olympics. Krayzelburg has been rehabilitating from shoulder

surgery.

“It was pretty weird. I hadn’t raced the guy in so long,” said

Peirsol, who’s headed for the University of Texas. “This race was

more of a test of will. It came down to the minute things. I tried to

take it out fast in the first 50 and hold him off in the final 150

(meters). The last 50 was the hardest part.”

Hayley Peirsol, Aaron’s younger sister who will be a senior at

Newport in the fall, won the 800 freestyle in 8:39.75 Thursday. She

finished second in the 400 (4:14.85) Friday.

-- Steve Virgen