Mackey Had a Late Start, but She’s a Fast Finisher

Nicole Mackey is making up for lost time.

She didn’t begin competitive swimming until she was 11, an age when most serious swimmers are close to qualifying for the Speedo Junior Championships--or have already made it. She dabbled in the sport for a while, showing promise but not that much interest.

All that is changed.

Mackey, one of the talented swimmers who have made Newport Harbor High a power, has shown in the last six months that she has become a force.

She won the 200-yard individual medley and was second in the 100 butterfly at the Foothill Swim Games Saturday.

“I played soccer and baseball,” said Mackey, a freshman. “I was kind of into all sports. When I was 11, I thought I would try swimming. I loved the beach and liked the water, so I thought swimming might be my thing.”

Her hunch turned out to be correct.

Mackey is coming off a sensational performance in the Speedo Junior Championships, although she got off to a rather slow start. She was disqualified in the 200-yard butterfly final--her first junior national final--when officials ruled she did not properly touch the wall at 150 yards.

Her response was to dominate two of her next three races. Mackey won the 100 backstroke in a meet-record time of 55.72 seconds, which qualified her for the Olympic Trials. Later the same day, she won the 500 freestyle. Earlier in the meet, she had finished second in the 200.

Mackey finished tied for third in the overall individual competition with 57 points.

“Yeah, it took a while, but I’ve gotten a lot faster,” Mackey said. “I’ve been getting good coaching. I’ve been working a lot harder, coming to more practices and stuff like that.”

Her motivation is travel. Mackey is driven to make the Olympic team, although she seems a longshot at this point. Still, considering how far she has come since September, she can’t be overlooked for a possible trip to Sydney.

She has qualified for the Olympic Trials in seven events and will decide later which ones she will swim. Her best event is the 400 individual medley.

“My ex-coach Jim Birmingham [of the Golden West club team] moved to Australia and I would really like to go see him,” Mackey said.

Such focus has helped the Newport Harbor team, which is expected to contend with Irvine and Laguna Hills for the Sea View League championship.

Mackey, who now swims for the Aquazots club team in Irvine, was part of the 200 medley relay team that broke Newport Harbor’s school record of 1:53.97 on March 6.

“She just took off this year,” said Aquazot Coach Brian Pajer, who trains Mackey. “Her attitude got better and she worked really hard, and it shows. She is beating girls who have five more years experience.”

GETTING HER FEET WET

Carly Geehr returned to competitive swimming in the Foothill games and won the 100 breaststroke and was second in the 100 backstroke.

Geehr, who transferred from Pasadena Mayfield to Newport Harbor this year, is considered one of the top young swimmers in the nation. She has been recovering from a torn rotator cuff.

LOOKING AHEAD

Irvine and Laguna Hills, the top-ranked girls’ teams in the county, meet in a dual meet Wednesday at Laguna Hills High.

Also this week, the Mission Viejo Invitational will be held on Saturday at Mission Viejo High.

If you have an item or idea for the prep swimming report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at chris.foster@latimes.com