Cardinal and Gold-en Goggles

Three Trojans are among the nominees for the 2007 Golden Goggle Awards, presented by USA Swimming.

Junior Rebecca Soni presents a compelling case for Breakout Performer of the Year. She underwent heart surgery in 2006, but stormed back in 2007 to win her second consecutive consecutive NCAA title in the 200-yard breaststroke. Once school got out, she went to the U.S. Summer Nationals and took home titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke.

Alum Mark Warkenstin is nominated for the Perseverance Award. While at USC he was a 4-year All-American and a 4-time World University Gold Medalist. A distance swimmer, he's won back-to-back 25K national titles and won the 2007 U.S. Open Water Grand Prix.

Olympic gold medalist and former Trojan Klete Keller is nominated as part of a relay. His men's 4x200 freestyle relay team broke the world record by more than a second at the 2007 FINA World Championships. They're up for Relay Performance of the Year.

Last year, former Trojan and Olympic gold medalist Eric Vendt won the Perseverance Award.

Internet voting is open to the public on the USA Swimming website, and current standings are shown after you submit your vote.

The winners will be honored at a ceremony hosted by Carson Daly on Nov. 18 at the Beverly Hilton.

Random trivia: The talk show host may not be known as a swimmer, but went to college on a golf scholarship and is into cycling and boxing.

Comments

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There is also a former Bruin Kim Vandenberg who has been nominated for a golden goggle award she is truly a California product and should get same recognition on this achievement. and no, we are not related!