Dimino sets new mark, Gauchos in third
Saddleback swimmer Andrew Dimino set a new program record in the 200 Freestyle race on Friday at the Orange Empire Conference Championships at the Saddleback Aquatics Center. The Gauchos sit in third place with one day remaining.
Dimino is quickly becoming one of the more decorated swimmers in Saddleback history. Last year he set the new program standard in the 50 Freestyle at the OEC Championships and now he has a second record in his back pocket.
Dimino finished the 200 Freestyle in 1:41.63, breaking the old record of 1:41.69 set by Peter Lindh in 1992. His finish was good enough for second place in the race as Riverside's Erick Fathoni set the new Orange Empire Conference record in the same race, touching the pad in 1:38.51. Dimino had finished fourth overall in the 50 Free on Thursday with a time of 21.26.
Saddleback moved up one spot into third place after two days, with a handful of events remaining on Saturday. The Gauchos have a number of top-10 finishes to show for through two days of competition.
Luke Prendiville finished second in the 500 Freestyle when he finished in 4:53.59. The time puts him in the top-30 all-time in Saddleback history.
Nick Deloney had top-10 finishes in both the 100 Fly and 100 Backstroke. Deloney finished third in the 100 Fly with a time of 54.40, which registers as a top-30 time in program history. He then finished sixth in the 100 Backstroke in a time of 59.39.
Saddleback did well in the 400 Individual Medley, with David Breen (4:45.65) finishing fifth and Grant Spriggs (5:42.70) seventh. They also had two top-10 finishes in the 100 Breaststroke with Grant Chauncey (1:09.31) finishing eighth and Morgan Choi (1:15.10) 10th. Colin Sowers was also a top-10 finisher when he finished eighth in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 59.59.
Saddleback's best finish in relay events was a fourth place finish in the 200 Freestyle Relay (1:31.00).
Saddleback finishes up Orange Empire Conference competition on Saturday.