CANYON CREST’S KO SETS SECTION MARK AT PRELIMS

“It lets me know that my hard work pays off.” Andrew Ko • On his S.D. section 100 breaststroke record

From third place a year ago, Canyon Crest junior Andrew Ko stepped up to set the San Diego Section boys 100-yard breaststroke record even before the swim finals this season.

Ko (54.96) broke the mark (55.74) set in 2017 by Del Norte’s Austin Nguyen in the Division I prelims at Granite Hills High on Wednesday.

“I just let it go,” said Ko, a transfer from Torrey Pines, who previously eclipsed 55 seconds in a relay split. “This is nice. It lets me know that my hard work pays off.”

The finals are slated for 9 a.m. Saturday at the same site.

Eastlake senior Emily Lundgren led the way in the girls 100 breaststroke (1:01.40) in her quest to break her own record (1:00.96) set last year. Also, she had the fastest 200 individual medley time (2:03.43) going for a three-peat title.

Also bidding for twin wins, Carlsbad senior Dylan Mes led the 200 freestyle field (1:40.62) after placing second a year ago and then came close (4:33.44) to matching last year’s winning 500 free time (4:33.07) behind Del Norte freshman Julien Rousseau (4:32.81).

“It’s shaping up really good,” Mes said. ”I’m in the middle of a taper right now set to peak on Saturday.”

Canyon Crest senior Xavier Chauvapun led qualifying in the 50 free (20.97) and 100 free (46.27). A year ago, his top showing was third in the 50 free (21.53).

In the boys 100 butterf ly, defending champion Andy Li qualified fourth (51.95), off his winning time from last year (50.59), so the Torrey Pines senior faces a challenge in a field led by Eastlake sophomore Zane Johnson (51.04).

Del Norte junior Emmy Luu, the reigning 200 free champion, switched to 100 free and qualified third (53.19) in a field paced by Bonita Vista sophomore Sarah Hardin (52.87).