LONG BEACH — Ventura High's Alexis Lee and Steve Edgar found the CIF-Southern Section Division I Swimming Championships to live up to its stellar reputation.

"To me this is the best high school meet in America, it is so competitive," said Edgar, a junior who raced to a 12th-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle Friday night in the Belmont Plaza Pool.

Edgar turned in a time of 1 minute, 44.24 seconds in the consolation final.

Freshman Clint Jorth of Newport Harbor was the consolation champion in 1:43.25.

"I just didn't have enough energy," Edgar said. "My league swimming went well, but the problem is I have to focus on CIF."

Edgar was 12th in the 100 freestyle consolation final (47.84). His qualifying swim was 48.39. Karl Krug of Yucaipa won the race in 44.23.

Yucaipa's 200 freestyle relay team set a national public school record with a 1:23.04. The old record was 1:23.15. Yucaipa recorded 241 points to win the championship. Redlands was second with 198. Dos Pueblos was fourth at 138. Ventura tied for 28th with 16 points.

Lee was in the field of the top eight 200 freestyle swimmers. The junior finished seventh in 1:54.88. She swam faster in the prelims (1:53.89). Mater Dei freshman Melanie Klaren won the event in 1:49.65.

Lee finished eighth in the 100 freestyle in 54.28. She qualified with a 53.45. Sophomore Cynthia Fascella of Fountain Valley won the race in 50.68.

"The more you swim here, the more comfortable you get," said Lee. "I've had a really good season."

The Cougars scored 55 points to finish 16th out of 35 teams. Mission Viejo celebrated the championship with 253 points and Edison was second with 219.50.

Lee will turn her focus to the Coastal Zone water polo team after Memorial Day Weekend.

Buena senior Jenna Roy was eighth in the 100 breast stroke (1:09.48). Melissa Bates of Mater Dei was the champion in 1:01.60.

The Ventura girls' 200 freestyle relay team (Kelsey Michon, Haley Bartosh, April Lecroy and Lee) finished 13th in 1:41.54. Esperanza was the consolation winner in 1:39.76.

The Cougars finished the night with a seventh place in the 400 freestyle relay (3:38.48) with Bartosh, Michon, Lecroy and Lee. Edison was the winning team in 3:29.86.

Spencer McGrath, Brian Boswell, Spencer Lewis and Edgar teamed to finish 16th in the consolation final of the 400 freestyle relay.

Division III prelims

Area swimmers put on a dominating show Friday in the Division III prelims.

The Oaks Christian boys' team, which has won three straight CIF titles, along with a cast of standouts from the Pacific View League and the Tri-Valley League warmed up for today's finals.

Oaks Christian's Collin Baratte, Nolan Koon, Chase Bloch and Michael Craft are the top seed in the 200-yard medley relay with a 1:36.05.

Senior Kevin Nielsen of Oaks Christian (1:43.70) edged Camarillo senior Evan Hedrick (1:43.72) in the 200 freestyle.

Senior Koon tops the 200 individual medley with a 1:52.91. Koon is second in the 100 breast stroke (57.74). Baratte was the 100 backstroke winner in 54.06.

Hueneme made a splash in the 200 medley relay, qualifying 12th for the consolation finals.

Seniors Michael Collins, Roberto Gonzalez, Taryn McCullough and Nicholas Sanchez turned a 1:44.55 to finish in front of PVL rivals Pacifica (1:44.61) and Camarillo (1:45.42, 14th).

Rio Mesa's Alicia Began (52.81) was the top qualifier in the 100 freestyle.

La Reina freshman Ariana Peschke, who was fourth the 100 freestyle in 54.23, captured the 50 freestyle in 1:00.36.

Pacifica's Kendall Neely qualified second (1:00.49). Camarillo's Rebeccah Gregg (1:03.68) was ninth.

The Oaks Christian girls' team earned a third seed in the 200 medley relay with a 1:54.14. Senior Erin Rosas is the anchor leg. Camarillo (10th, 1:59.31) and Pacifica (13th, 2:00.36) will be in the consolation finals.

Neeley finished second in the 50 freestyle (24.14) and Rio Mesa's Alicia Began (24.63) was fourth.

Rio Mesa's Morgan McCardell was third in the 100 butterfly (59.61).