Prep swimming: McKay breaks CdM record at CIF prelims

Steve Virgen

BELMONT SHORE - In not so many words, Corona del Mar High freshman

Kim McKay assured her coach, Doug Volding, that she could break the

school record in the 500-yard freestyle. McKay simply smiled, creating a

calmness when Volding reminded her of what was at stake.

She then broke the CdM record when she qualified seventh in the 500

free (5:14.19, her personal best) at the CIF Southern Section Division II

swim preliminaries at Belmont Plaza Thursday. McKay broke the former

record held by Michelle Bird, whose time was 5:17.00 in the early 1980s,

according to Volding.

McKay was the only CdM girl who advanced to Saturday’s championship

finals (top eight qualifiers) as the Sea Kings produced their largest

number of CIF qualifiers in Volding’s 16 years of coaching at the school.

“I was just really happy,” said a smiling McKay of the record-breaking

swim. “I was trying to do it for my mom (Diane).”

The record had been on the freshman’s mind since last week’s Pacific

Coast League preliminaries, she said. She won the 500 free (5:19.06) at

league finals.

McKay also qualified for the CIF consolation finals (qualifiers nine

through 16) and will be seeded 12th in the 200 IM (2:13.15). Sea Kings

senior Lauren Powers and freshman Vivian Liao, along with Costa Mesa

senior Erin Bayes, also qualified for the consolation finals.

Liao will be seeded ninth in the 50 free (personal-best 25.22) and

16th in the 100 free (56.18).

Powers qualified 11th in the 50 free (25.26) and Bayes qualified 10th

in the 100 free (54.92) and 14th in the 50 free (25.39).

Bayes, who won the PCL title in the 50 free, said a reseeding in the

event, “psyched me out.” But, she didn’t entirely blame her finish on the

change that moved her from the second heat to the third. Volding said the

change threw off his swimmers as well.

The PCL 200 free relay champions, McKay, Powers, Liao and junior

Heather Hapeman, qualified ninth in 1:44.01.

The Sea Kings’ quartet also qualified ninth in the 400 relay

(3:45.43). CdM’s 200 medley relay of sophomores Christina Hewko, Jackie

McCoy, Niki Hendrickson and Brittney Bowlus qualified 14th in 1:56.92.

Costa Mesa senior Jody Martinovich missed the CIF preliminaries

because she had an AP calculus test. She would have competed in the 200

IM and the 500 free. Martinovich finished second in the PCL in the 500

free (5:31.99) and fifth in the 200 IM (2:16.56), breaking the Costa Mesa

High record previously held by her sister Wendy.

“I’m pretty upset,” said Mustangs Coach Kathie LeCours, who realized

from University Coach Mike Reid that a different test could have been

sent to Martinovich on Monday. “I know how torn up she was about (trying

to compete in CIF).”

University had three swimmers postpone their AP calculus test to

Monday. They paid an extra $40 for the test and $20 for shipping. Another

$100 would have been needed for a proctor, but Reid, who teaches AP

computer science at the school, took a personal day off, volunteering to

watch over the three.

In the boys competition, CdM junior Sherwin Kim qualified for the

championship finals in two events. He’ll be seeded fourth Saturday in the

100 free (47.86) and sixth in the 200 individual medley (1:59.84). Both

swims were personal bests.

“I don’t think I am where I should be right now,” Kim said. “I’m

pretty satisfied, but I should be going faster at the finals.”

The PCL 200 free relay champions, Kim, and juniors Matt Meyer, Michael

March and Bobby Messenger, qualified eighth in 1:30.94. They swam a

1:13.97 at PCL Finals Friday.

“I’m very pleased,” CdM Coach Tim Chaix said of his Sea Kings’ overall

effort. “There’s still room for improvement.”

CdM’s 400 free relay team of Kim, sophomore James Strack, sophomore

John Money and Meyer, qualified 14th in 3:23.28.

The CIF Finals begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at Belmont Plaza.