Beard Has No Trouble Winning After Exhausting Week

IRVINE —  After an exhausting week in and out of the pool, Amanda Beard remained unbeatable in the 100-meter breaststroke Friday at the Speedo International Grand Challenge Swimming Invitational.

Swimming in her home pool at the Heritage Aquatic Complex, the U.S. Olympic team member had little trouble winning the event in 1 minute 12.13 seconds.

Beard is ranked first in the world in the event and second in the 200-meter breaststroke.

During the last week, Beard has not only been working out hard with her swim club, the Novaquatics, and going to school, but the Irvine High freshman was on “The Tonight Show” Tuesday and returned from a major swim meet in Arizona last Sunday.

But while her schedule seems nonstop, her coach Dave Salo said she will be close to home the next month and should get plenty of rest.

“I’m going to have to give her a little pep talk this week,” Salo said. “But she’ll be fine.”

Beard also swam the 200 individual medley and finished second to Shannon Cullen of Redlands, who won in 2:23.05.

In other events: George Giziotis, who swims with the Greek national team, set a meet record in the 50 freestyle (23.90). Polish Olympic team member Bart Kizierowski won the 200 individual medley in 2:09.74 and Trojan Swim Club teammates Lenny Krayzelburg (200 backstroke) and Jeff Julian (400 freestyle) won their specialties. Dave Huston, who is swimming unattached, won the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.23.

Nicole Bernard, 14, of Seattle, beat Olympic medal-winner Angie Wester-Krieg of Stanford in the 400 freestyle (4:25.31). Nicole Beck of Ventura Buena won the 200 back (2:21.72) and her teammate, Kimberly Schneider won the 50 free (27.82).

The meet continues today and ends Sunday.

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Notes

Goh Phuangthong, who last year was a training partner with Bart Kizierowski at Mission Viejo until he went to Shore Aquatic in Long Beach, lost to Kizierowski in the 200 IM. Phuangthong, who will represent Thailand in the Olympics, finished in 2:11.29.

Kizierowski, 19, who will graduate from Mission Viejo High next month, said he has no plans to return to Poland before the Olympics. “I really don’t want to go back,” Kizierowski said. “So I’ll stay here and train with Mission Viejo and head out to Atlanta about July 12.”

Kristen Caverly, 11, of San Clemente, was the youngest swimmer from the county who made it into the consolation round. She went on to win her heat in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.60.