There are countless ways to get ready to swim against top competition.

Camille Duckett practiced.

The Thousand Oaks High senior went through her normal morning workout, then won the girls' varsity 100-yard freestyle against top-shelf opponents at the Josh Malakar/Royal Invitational Saturday at the Rancho Simi Community Park pool.

Duckett won the 100 free in 53.36 seconds, and also finished third in the 100 butterfly in 59.83 to highlight an impressive day for local swimmers at the prodigious meet.

The 27th annual Royal Invitational attracted 32 schools, included regional powers Oaks Christian, Thousand Oaks, La Cañada, Quartz Hills and Hart, with more than 1,000 athletes in the pool.

For most swimmers, including Duckett, the event serves as a helpful tuneup for the upcoming league and CIF-Southern Section championships.

"I was just looking to swim through it," said Duckett, using the invitational as sort of a deluxe practice.

"I had my workout this morning, and came here just to see what I'd do against the good competition. We're getting close to CIF. We'll taper next, and get ready for the championships."

Duckett, who will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo beginning next fall, won the 100 freestyle and finished second in the CIF-SS Division II championships last year. She is one of a number of local swimmers competing in the Royal Invitational who harbor big hopes in the weeks ahead.

The powerhouse Oaks Christian boys, who dominated the CIF-SS Division III Championships a year ago to capture their third consecutive divisional crown, looked as sharp as aged cheddar in winning the boys' varsity team competition with three double-winners Saturday.

Nolan Koon sped to victories in the 50 freestyle (21.74) and 100 breast stroke (59.90), Chase Bloch won the 100 butterfly (52.84) and 500 freestyle (4:42.44) and Collin Baratte was first in the 200 individual medley (2:01.78) and 100 backstroke (1:54.59). The Lions rolled up 438 points to outdistance second-place La Cañada (333.50). Royal finished third with 162.50 and Calabasas was fourth at 127.

The Lions swept all three relays.

Oaks Christian also won the girls' team competition, winning the 400 freestyle relay to unlock a tie with Flintridge Sacred Heart. The Lions, with Hayley Shillington winning two races, finished with 199.50 points. Flintridge Sacred Heart was third with 191.50 points.

Koon, the boys' Division III champion last year in the 200 IM and 100 breast stroke, said Oaks Christian treats the event as a CIF-SS tuneup.

"It's a good warmup," he said. "We bring our whole team and see what we do against the good teams. It's fun and relaxing, because you're going up against guys you know from club competition. But we're looking to swim our best."

A host of other area swimmers flourished against top counterparts.

Thousand Oaks senior Alex Henley won the girls' 100 butterfly in 59.34 and the 100 backstroke in 59.48; Agoura freshman Shannyn Hultin was first in the girls' 200 IM in 2:11.95; Oaks Christian sophomore Hayley Shillington won the girls' 200 freestyle in 1:57.48 and the 500 freestyle in 5:06.34; and Moorpark's Alanah Bird won the girls' 100 breast stroke in 1:11.65.

Among the boys, Moorpark senior Michael Lorch took second in the 200 freestyle in 1:47.11 and was third in the 100 butterfly in 54.21.

Hultin, who will compete in her first CIF-SS championships next month, said her performance was a decided confidence boost.

"It's good to know I can go up against the best swimmers and do pretty well," she said.

Henley, who was third in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 IM at the CIF-SS Division II finals last year, was buoyed by her performance in the 100 butterfly.

"I was considering whether I should swim it or not in the CIF-SS meet, and this definitely pushes me toward swimming it. It's good to go up against girls who will be at the CIF-SS meet, and still finish first."

Royal's Kacey Creek, representing the host school, was happy to place fifth in the 50 freestyle in 25.90.

"I think it's also good to go against swimmers who are better than you and see where you rank," said Creek, who also anchored Royal to third place in the 200 freestyle relay. "That's the best way to get better."

Also on the day, Oak Park's Kristine Ghemigian was third in the girls' 200 freestyle (1:57.78) and third in the 100 freestyle (55.73); La Reina's Ariana Peschke was second in the girls' 100 backstroke (1:00.98); Calabasas' Sareen Hagopion was second in the girls' 200 IM (2:19.06) and third in the 100 breast stroke (1:12.64); Oaks Christian's Diana Safa was second in the girls' 100 breast stroke (1:12.09); and Moorpark's Summer Bennett was third in the girls' 200 IM (2:19.30).

For the boys, Vlad Bekerman of Calabasas was third in the 500 freestyle (49.38), while Thousand Oaks' Tyler Henry was third in the 200 IM (2:08.50) and Brendan Donahue was third in the 100 backstroke (56.87).