1999 Janet Evans Invitational: Day 1
LOS ANGELES, CA – 16 year-old Kaitlin Sandeno (Nellie Gail Gators) of Mission Viejo, Calif., and South African Ryk Neethling (Hillenbrand) won the women’s and men’s 800m freestyles, respectively, to kick off the sixth annual Janet Evans Invitational on Thursday (July 15) at the USC McDonald’s Swim Stadium in the meet hosted by USC and presented by Speedo.
Sandeno, who won her first career U.S. national title at the 1999 Spring Nationals (400m IM), continued her fine season with an 8:36.21 to win the timed finals of the 800m.
Joanne Malar (University of Calgary Swim Club) finished a close second in 8:38.22 and Lindsay Benko (Trojan Swim Club) was third in 8:45.08
Neethling broke his own meet record with his winning time of 8:01.36, bettering the old mark by close to six seconds. The time was also a personal best in the race.
Chad Carvin (Mission Viejo Nadadores) finished second in 8:07.28, also better than Neethling’s old meet record (8:07.31). Erik Vendt (Ocean State Squids) from North Easton, Mass., an incoming USC freshman, took third in 8:12.88.