Swimmers to receive challenging workout

Swimmers representing the Carson Tigersharks this weekend at the Pacific Senior Short Course Championships should receive a challenging workout.

All of the Tigershark swimmers will be participating in several events in the meet, which begins today at the Carson City Swim Center in Mills Park. The meet will run through Monday.

Today's meet will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the men's and women's1,650-yard freestyles. The Tigersharks' Lauren Costella, who is coming off her second straight title in the 800 freestyle at last weekend's Junior International Meet in Portland, Ore., should be the favorite in the women's event.

Costella, who is world ranked in the 400-meter individual medley and 1,500 meter freestyle, should also compete in the 200, 500 and 1,000 freestyles, 200 backstroke and 200 and 400 individual medleys in this weekend's meet.

Among the favorites in the men's 1,650 free should be the Tigersharks' Justin Barber and Reno's Scott Kaufman. Barber and the Tigersharks' Ryan Hudson also competed last weekend in Portland.

Among the other top swimmers scheduled to compete this weekend is Portland's Melissa Green, who was a finalist in the 100 and 200 butterflies at this past summer's United States Olympic trials. Top swimmers from the University of Pacific and Napa and Marina Aqautics swim clubs in California and Reno are scheduled to compete this weekend as well.

Preliminary races on Saturday, Sunday and Monday will begin at 9 a.m., with the finals to be held in the afternoon.

"It's early in the season for us," Tigershark coach Jack Simon said. "We're still trying to compete in as many events as possible and do as well in as many events as possible."

"It will provide some very good competition for us," Simon also said about the meet. "I think overall we should do pretty well."

Simon said Costella, Barber and Hudson should do well in the distance events. In addition, Hudson should do well in the 200 I.M.

Another Tigershark swimmer who should do well is Tara Theilaman in the backstrokes. Another Tigershark swimmer, 13-year-old Keil Costella, is a developing talent in the distance events, Simon said.

Tigershark swimmers scheduled to compete and their likely events are: Barber, 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles, 200 and 400 individual medleys; Hudson, 200, 500, 1,000, and1,650 freestyles, 200 backstroke; Kyle McAfee, 50, and100 freestyles, 100 fly; Peter Keegan, 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, 100 and 200 backstrokes, 100 fly.

Keil Costella, 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles; Laura Costella, 200, 500, 1,000, 1,650 freestyles, 200 breaststroke, 200 and 400 individual medleys; Tara Theilaman, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 freestyles, 100 and 200 backstrokes, 200 I.M.; Ryan Theilaman, 100, 200 freestyles, 200 I.M., 100 and 200 breaststrokes.