Sandeno’s 1,500 Victory Caps Emotional Week

Kaitlin Sandeno of Lake Forest won the 1,500-meter freestyle Sunday at the TYR Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo, capping a busy week for the USC-bound Olympian.

Sandeno, a bronze medalist in the 800 freestyle at the 2000 Games in Sydney, finished in 16 minutes 45.33 seconds, seven seconds faster than second-place finisher Alexis Binder but slower than her winning time the last two years.

“I’ll have a better idea next week where I’m at,” said Sandeno, referring to the Santa Clara Valley International Invitational Swim Meet. “My head has been up in the clouds recently.”

Sandeno graduated Thursday from El Toro High, where she was senior class vice president.

Aaron Peirsol, a soon-to-be Newport Harbor High senior who medaled in Sydney, won the 100 backstroke in 57.18.

Anaheim Esperanza’s Erin Sieper won a rematch against Kristen Caverly in the 100 breaststroke. Sieper won in 1:11.08, edging San Clemente’s Caverly (1:11.73), who defeated Sieper to win a Southern Section title last month. Caverly later won the 200 individual medley, her third victory of the meet.