Oka, Furman in finals

Chris Yemma

Fresh off Sea View League titles last week, the Newport Harbor High

boys and girls swim teams were anything but well-rested heading into

the CIF Southern Section Division I preliminaries Wednesday.

But a sluggish Dan Furman at Belmont Plaza was still fast enough

to sneak into the seventh of eight qualifying spots for the 50-yard

freestyle championship final Friday. And a determined Kayley Oka

found herself in the 100 butterfly championship following a

sixth-place finish at the prelims.

“This was a tough transition for us to make and I talked to the

girls about it,” said Sailor girls coach Ken LaMont, referring to his

team coming off a grueling week of league prelims and finals. “It’s

tough to come out and do it all over again. They’re mentally drained

right now.”

Both the Sailor boys and girls won league titles Friday for the

first time in recent memory, but against the top Division I talent

Wednesday, the results were a little more selective.

Furman, who won the 50-free league title in a blistering 20.90

seconds Friday to enter the prelims with the top time in the Southern

Section, advanced Wednesday in 21.71. Oka, a sophomore, advanced with

a personal-best 58.88, while the boys 200 free relay team and girls

400 free relay team rounded out the top Newport advancers.

The boys team of Furman, Telford Cottam, Clay Jorth and Kyle

Sherman clocked in at 1:28.60 for sixth to advance to the

championship race at Belmont Plaza. The girls team of Anne Belden,

Melissa Wheeler, Bryndis Klein and Oka finished seventh in 3:40.78.

Furman was a mere half-second off qualifying for the 100 free

final, finishing 10th in 47.76. Aliso Niguel’s Austin Luther grabbed

the final qualifying spot in 47.24.

But the junior said his main focus is the 50 free.

“My was goal was just to make the finals [in the 50 free],” said

Furman, who broke the school record in the event at the Sea View

finals last week. “Friday will be a new race. Last week was

definitely draining. I just wanted to make the top eight [in the

prelims].”

The odd time of day (noon) at Wednesday’s prelims also might have

played a factor in Furman’s sluggish performance, Newport boys coach

Jason Lynch said.

“He’s capable of going that time again,” said Lynch in reference

to Furman’s league final time. “It’s hard to come in here this time

of day when the atmosphere is unemotional and perform. Obviously

Friday will be different.”

Friday’s finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., making for a

more formal atmosphere.

And Oka and Furman will be in the spotlight, shooting for CIF

titles.

“I’m pretty excited,” Oka said after finishing the 100 butterfly.

“My goal is to bump up a place and swim in the 57 [second] range.

Hopefully I can drop my time.”

Only a sophomore, though, Oka will have two more years to aim for

the gold should she come up a little short Friday.

“For her to be in the top six of CIF Division I is quite an

accomplishment,” LaMont said. “It’s an accomplishment for any of

these girls to be [in the prelims].”