Agoura Swimmer Wilford a Favorite in Junior Nationals West Medley Races

Agoura’s Harvey Wilford is among the top contenders in the 200- and 400-yard individual medley races in the Speedo Junior Nationals West swim championship meet Tuesday through Saturday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

The meet brings together swimmers 18 and under from states west of the Mississippi River.

Wilford, 16, of Calabasas-based CLASS Aquatics, is one of more than a dozen area swimmers who met the time standards to qualify for the meet. Wilford’s teammate, Erin Schatz, 15, of Agoura, should contend in the 200 backstroke, according to CLASS Coach Bud McAllister. Schatz finished third in the 200 backstroke at the Junior Nationals West outdoor championships last August.

Chris Sendejas, Kevin Kaufman and Nathan Reese, all of Agoura, also are competing for CLASS. Sendejas, 16, specializes in the breaststroke and Kaufman, 17, is entered in the 100 and 200 butterfly events. Reese, 14, will swim the 400 individual medley and the 1,650 freestyle.

Cal State Northridge freshman Heather Ballard is entered in several events. Ballard, who was excluded from last week’s NCAA Division I championships by a new selection system, will not swim her strongest events, the distance freestyle races.

Members of Buenaventura Swim Team, Conejo Simi Aquatics and Canyons Aquatics also are entered in the five-day meet.

A similar competition, Speedo Junior Nationals East, for swimmers from the eastern portion of the United States, is scheduled for Tuesday through Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.