Tigersharks off to good start

If meet and team records are a good indication, Lauren Costella and Justin Barber have gotten the Carson Tigersharks off to what will be a successful performance at the second annual Junior International Meet in Portland.

Costella, 16, finished second in the 400-meter individual medley, covering the 25-meter course in four minutes, 47.38 seconds. Annie Stein of Boulder, Colo. edged Costella for the title, winning in 4:47.21 in the meet for girls16 and under.

The two swimmers shattered last year's meet record by six seconds and Costella also set a Tigershark record.

Justin Barber, 16, also set a Tigershark record in the 400 I.M. in the meet for boys 18 and under. Barber placed fourth in 4:35.14. Doug McQueen of the Pacific Dolphins in Vancouver, Can. won the event in 4:31.21.

While Tigershark coach Jack Simon said it was a good start for his swimmers, he was hoping for even better results, particularly on the final day, Sunday.

"Our best events are the longer ones," Simon said. "Hopefully, we'll have a good third day, too."

Costella is the defending meet champion in the 800 freestyle. Eighteen-year-old Ryan Hudson is competing in the meet for the Tigersharks as well.

Swimmers from China, Italy, Ireland, France, Japan, Canada and the Pacific Northwest are competing in the meet.