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THIS SEASON: A four-time career-All-American, 2002 senior Mark Warkentin is one of the top mid-to-distance freestylers in the nation who will look to be a key part of USC’s formidable punch in the distance freestyle and IM. He is the fourth-fastest Trojan ever in the 400y IM (3:45.87) and the ninth-fastest ever in the 1000y free (9:09.43) and the 1650y free (15:07.29).
2001: Warkentin, as a 2001 junior, earned All-American honors with an eighth-place finish in the 400y IM (3:47.73) at the 2001 NCAA Championships. He also was 15th in the 500y free (4:21.50) and 16th in the 1650y free (15:09.43) … At the 2001 Pacific-10 Conference Championships, Warkentin posted a pair of fourths in the 500y free (4:21.10) and the 400y IM (3:46.46) and a sixth in the 1650y free (15:18.12) … At the 2001 World University Games, he was fourth in the 400m free (3:55.96) and won a silver medal as part of the United States’ 800m free relay … At the 2001 U.S. Spring Nationals, Warkentin was sixth in the 400m free (3:54.52), 11th in the 200m free (1:51.97), 15th in the 400m IM (4:30.96) and 19th in the 1500m free (15:55.01) … At the 2001 Summer Nationals, he was fourth in the 400m free (3:54.28) and eighth in the 200m free (1:52.39).
2000: A sophomore in 2000, Warkentin earned a pair of All-American honors at the 2000 NCAAs... He was sixth in the 400m IM (4:13.82, SC) and seventh in the 400m free (3:47.53, SC). He also took 16th in the 1500m free (4:13.82, SC), scoring in three individual events for the second consecutive year ... At the 2000 Pac-10s, Warkentin took third in the 500y free (4:20.30) and fourth in both the 400y IM (3:48.41) and the 1650y free (15:11.09) ... Warkentin’s 500y free (4:20.30) was USC’s top time of the year, as was his 400y IM (3:47.62, a personal best, USC’s top time of the year and it made him the third-fastest ever at USC) ... At the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, Warkentin was 13th in the 1500m free (15:41.60), 14th in the 200m free (1:51.61) and 17th in the 400m free (3:57.46) ... At the 2000 U.S. Spring Nationals, Warkentin was 10th in the 400m free (3:56.54), 14th in both the 1500m free (15:44.00) and the 400m IM (4:28.97) and 16th in the 200m free (1:53.56). He also swam on USC’s 400m and 800m free relay teams that reached the finals ... At the 1999 U.S. Open, Warkentin was eighth in the 400m free (3:57.31) and ninth in the 1500m free (15:46.08).
1999: Warkentin had a dominant summer of 1999, completing a fantastic 1998-99 freshman campaign ... An All-American and a U.S. National finalist, Warkentin’s summer was highlighted by a four-gold medal performance at the 1999 World University Games. Warkentin won golds in the 200m free (1:51.30), 400m free (3:53.43), 800m free (8:00.81) and 800m free relay (1:50.70 split). He also took a fourth in the 1500m free (15:29.54). The four golds matched Matt Biondi’s 1985 record total ... At the 1999 U.S. Summer Nationals, Warkentin continued his hot swimming with four top four finishes, taking second in both the 400m (3:53.80) and 1500m free (15:31.63), third in the 800m free (8:02.20) and fourth in the 200m free (1:50.14) ... At the U.S. Spring Nationals, Warkentin won gold as part of USC’s winning 800m free relay. He also took fourth in the 1500m free (15:31.17) ... On the NCAA front, Warkentin was one of only three Trojans to score in three individual events at the 1999 NCAAs, earning All-American honors with a seventh-place finish in the 400y IM (3:48.71). He also made the consolation finals of the 500y (4:22.27) and 1650y free (15:07.29), finishing 13th overall in both ... Warkentin made his presence felt at the 1999 Pac-10s, taking second in the 400y IM (3:50.30), fourth in the 500y free (4:23.16) and ninth in the 1650y free (15:29.97). He finished the season with USC’s top times in the 1000y (9:09.43) and 1650y free (15:07.29) and the 400y IM (3:48.71) ... At the 1999 U.S. Spring Nationals, Warkentin took second in the 400m free (3:55.51) and fourth in the 1500m free (15:43.94) ... He also finished 11th in the 200m free (1:52.14). Warkentin made two finals appearances at the 1998 U.S. Open, taking sixth in both the 400m free (3:55.50, SC) and the 1500m free (15:29.96, SC). He also placed 14th in the 400m IM (4:26.47, SC) and 21st in the 200m free (1:52.76, SC).
HIGH SCHOOL: Warkentin prepped at San Marcos High in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he had been a regular competitor on the U.S. National scene ... He was a member of the U.S. contingent at the 1998 Goodwill Games and competed in the 200m, 400m and 800m free ... Competing at the 1998 Spring Nationals as a senior, Warkentin finished third in the 200m (1:51.86), 400m (3:54.46) and 800m (8:06.45) freestyles and took fifth in the 1500m free (15:45.21) ... At the 1997 Summer Nationals, Warkentin took eighth in the 800m free (8:13.96), 15th in the 400m free and 23rd in the 1500m free ... At the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, Warkentin made the finals of the 400m free, finishing eighth. At the 1995 Spring Nationals, he finished second in the 400m and 800m free ... He finalled in at least one race in every U.S. National meet since 1995. During his four-year prep career, Warkentin won CIF Southern Section titles in the 500y free three times and once in the 200y free. He finished second in the 200y free three times ... He was the Channel League champion in the 200y and 500y free from 1995-98 ... He is the Southern California record holder in the 400m IM, 200m free and 800m free in the 13-14 age group.
PERSONAL: His birthday is Nov. 14, 1979 ... His sister, Kara, was a tennis player for USC ... He lists anchoring the winning 800m free relay for the United States at the 1999 World University Games as his most thrilling moment in sports.
WARKENTIN'S PERSONAL RECORDS:
| EVENT | TIME |
| 200-YARD FREE | 1:37.4 |
| 200-METER FREE | 1:50.14 |
| 500-YARD FREE | 4:20.00 |
| 400-METER FREE | 3:53.3 |
| 1000-YARD FREE | 9:06.2 |
| 1650-YARD FREE | 15:07.29 |
| 800-METER FREE | 8:00.81 |
| 1500-METER FREE | 15:29.4 |
| 400-YARD IM | 3:45.87 |
