Carvin Eventually Gets in the Swim

MISSION VIEJO — It was a hectic day for Chad Carvin. Not only did he have to battle Los Angeles International Airport traffic Thursday, but he also had to deal with the Southland’s freeways before swimming his first event of the Swim Meet of Champions at the Marguerite International Swim Center.

But the former Laguna Hills High standout was able to get it together and win the first event of the four-day meet, the 800-meter freestyle.

“It was pretty crazy,” Carvin said after his race, which he won in 8 minutes 16.97 seconds, nearly four seconds ahead of Jeff Julian of the Trojan Swim Club. “I arrived at LAX about 2:45 this afternoon, then I had to get on down here and swim my event, which started at 5. But it’s good to be back home and it’s cool to see some of my old friends.”

Although some would be ready to scream after dealing with airport and freeway madness, Carvin shrugged it off. Besides, he’s just happy to be here, swimming competitively.

After all, Carvin nearly had to give up swimming last year after coming down with viral cardiomyopathy. The virus left him bedridden and unable to train and he therefore had to skip the U.S. Olympic trials, where he would have been favored to make the U.S. team.

Carvin, however, eventually recovered and a year later, he has regained much of his former stamina.

Not wanting to dwell in the past, Carvin, who swims for Hillenbrand Aquatics in Tucson, Ariz., is looking to make the U.S. World Championship and Pan American team.

Said Carvin after his race: “I felt OK, but this is my first race of the season, so it isn’t like I’m trying to burn up the pool. I guess it [the race] is pretty ugly. But I think as the season progresses, I should be ready for nationals in July.”

The Senior Nationals, which will be held in Nashville, Tenn., will determine the U.S. team for both the World Championships and Pan Am Games.

Carvin will be swimming again today in the 400 freestyle and the 200 butterfly.

The women’s 800 freestyle, which along with the men’s were Thursday’s only events, was won by Lindsay Benko of the Trojan Swim Club in 8:52.54. Canadian Andrea Schwartz finished second, .01 behind Benko. Amy Oberbelman of Stanford was third (8:57.55).

One of the lighter moments of the day came when Olympian Brad Bridgewater of the Trojan Swim Club decided to swim the 800 freestyle using the backstroke. Bridgewater, who won a gold medal in the 200 backstroke in Atlanta, finished 24th overall. In freestyle, a swimmer can use any stroke; however, freestyle is considered the fastest of the four strokes.

The meet continues today with the 100 freestyle, followed by the 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 400 freestyle and 400 free relays. Preliminaries start at 9 a.m., with finals scheduled for 5 p.m.