Posted on: Wednesday, January 26, 2005
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Two Maui swimmers enjoying fast times
| • | Ruth is off to good start with San Diego |
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Maui High graduate Chelsea Nagata and Seabury Hall alum Randall Tom have helped to set a combined five individual or relay records at Irvine since their careers began in November.
"I didn't really know what to expect, coming into here," Nagata said. "I signed here because I thought it was a program that would fit me the best. I'm just pleased that I'm doing really well."
Last weekend in a dual meet against UC San Diego, Nagata, of Kahului, broke the school record in the 100-yard butterfly in 55.47 seconds.
In the same meet, Tom, of Wailuku, broke a 15-year-old school record with a 48.87 in the 100 butterfly, and was a part of the men's 200 medley relay team (1:31.55) that broke a 13-year-old record. He also won the 200 butterfly (1:48.97) to break the meet and pool records.
UC Irvine photos "When I was recruited, I was recruited as a backup in the 50 and the 100 (butterfly)," Tom said. "I thought I would be a supporting person to help out the team. I thought I would get more success as a junior or senior."
On Nov. 10, Tom was named the Big West Conference Swimmer of the Week after winning the 50 freestyle (20.94) and finishing second in the 100 butterfly (49.76), the third fastest time in UCI history. He also was a member of the 200 medley relay team that swam a 1:32.45, the second fastest at UCI, at the Big West Shootout.
Two weeks later, Nagata was named the Big West Swimmer of the Week after breaking the UCI record in the 50 freestyle in 23.62, and helping the UCI-record breaking relay team in the 200 medley relay in 1:45.89 at the Speedo Cup.
Tom, a four-time Hawai'i high school state meet individual champion, said part of the reason he chose to attend UCI was Nagata.
"It did affect me a little bit that she committed here," he said. "Because I knew I would have a familiar face to see around campus."
They hardly get to hang out with each other, because "she lives in a different area than I do," he said, but having her there helped his adjustment to college, he said.
Nagata and Tom, who grew up as members of the Maui Swim Club, have adjusted nicely from club competition to the college level, Nagata said.
Earlier this month Tom led the 'Eaters with wins in the 200 butterfly (1:51.74), 50 butterfly (22.59) and the 200 individual medley (1:54.46) during the Sprint Invitational, and Nagata won the 50 butterfly (25:05).
Both said harder practices and an introduction to weight lifting have helped their transition, although it is another thing to get used to.
"I knew practice was going to be hard, but I didn't know it was going to be this much harder than our club practice," Tom said. "In club, we'll do around two to three thousand yards, and in high school I would do three, sometimes four thousand yards.
"Now, we're doing five, six, or seven thousand yards."
Nagata, who earned a 4.2 cumulative grade point average at Maui High and was its valedictorian, has been cutting back on her workouts because she has been battling throat irritation and a sinus infection.
"It's hard, it makes you tired," she said. "I was having a hard time breathing because I was coughing a lot and I would have to stop.
"For this week, I was resting a little. Now is the time I should be practicing hard (to prepare for conference meets). I'm just trying to get back into it now."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
Swimming records continue to fall at UC Irvine at the hands — and arms and legs — of two freshmen from Maui.
Freshman Randall Tom said he was recruited as a "backup" in the butterfly, but he already has a school record in the 100 butterfly.
Freshman Chelsea Nagata was named Big West Swimmer of the Week after breaking a UC Irvine record in the 50 freestyle.
