Niehoff posts third national time

Abby Niehoff posted her third time that ranks among the nation's best on Friday to lead the effort of the Carson Tigersharks that continues to be impressive at the Pacific Age Group Championships in Concord, Calif.

Niehoff placed second in the 11-12 age group in the 800-meter freestyle in nine minutes, 52.45 seconds. The time ranks in the nation's top 16 for her age group and is her third time of the meet that ranks in the nation's top 16.

Rebekah Niehoff placed second in the 800 free in 13-14 girls in 9:50.70. It was the first time that Rebekah swam the 800 free in under 10 minutes. Both Niehoffs were able to negative split the race in which they swam the second 400 faster than the first.

Barbara Perkins and Lauren Metcalf also had impressive finishes in the 800 free. Perkins had a Far Western qualifying time in placing ninth in 13-14 girls in 10:06.53. Metcalf just missed a Far Western time in placing ninth in 15-16 girls in 10:07.31.

Abby Niehoff also posted a five-second drop in the 200 free preliminaries, finishing in 2:21.31. She dropped her time lower to 2:19.17 to take fifth in the finals. Rebekah Niehoff had a six-second drop in the 200 free, finishing in 2:18.46.

Also in the 200 free, Tatum Boehnke posted a personal best of 2:37.07 in 11-12 girls. Metcalf had a personal best of 2:26.74.

In the 100 butterfly, Jake Priest finished in 1:24.93 in 11-12 boys and Kiel Costella finished in 1:07.41 in 17-18 boys. Priest also finished in 37:58 in the 50 backstroke.

In the 200 breaststroke, Perkins finished in 3:16.54 and Metcalf finished in 3:09.11.