Swimmers at Junior Olympic Championships Harbor Hopes for Future Gold

At the pool where former Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans got her start, young athletes who hope to reach the same heights competed Friday at the 1996 Southern California Junior Olympic Swimming Championships.

Evans’ sixth-place finish in the 800-meter freestyle competition Thursday at this year’s Olympics in Atlanta had saddened members of Fullerton Aquatic Swim Team, who had waved “FAST loves you� and “Swim fast� signs while they watched her on television.

“We were all rooting for her,� said Ryan McNeill, who with three FAST teammates won silver medals Friday in the 11- and 12 year-old category of the 400-meter freestyle relay in the local games, which continue through Aug. 4.

Win or lose, however, “she will always be a legend,� FAST teammate Andrew Ha said.

Meanwhile, Amanda Beard’s teammates from the Irvine Novaquatics team were on a high. They are expected to dominate the Junior Olympics this year, officials said.

Beard, 14, who won two silver medals and one gold at the Atlanta Games, is Sheva Khalafbeigi’s idol.

“She’s the best,� the 12-year-old girl said as she waited to compete in the 100-meter breaststroke. “I’m trying to reach her goals when she was my age.�

Mary Jo Swalley, the Junior Olympics referee, said the top swimmers in each of four age categories will advance to national competitions next month.

“This is a selection meet,� she said. “It’s extremely competitive, and these kids are very serious about it.�

Indeed, the swimmers say.

“I started competing when I was 6, and this is my third Junior Olympics,� said Diana Chapman, 12, of Placentia. She came in eighth in Friday’s 400-meter freestyle and will be going to the nationals. “In 2000, you’ll see me in Sydney.�