HEADING TO TRIAL(S); CARPENTER BOASTS TOOLS THAT COULD GET HIM TO GAMES.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Daily News Staff Writer

Kenny Carpenter is used to swimming ahead of the pack, which is where he plans to be Saturday at the 19th Josh Mlakar Memorial Royal High School Invitational. While this prestigious area meet serves as a high point for many area swimmers, it'll only be another step on the career path of the Crescenta Valley High senior.

Carpenter has the Southern Section record in the 100-yard butterfly, although it is just one of about 30 records he has set since dominating swimming from the time he was 12.

Each meet Carpenter swims - from prep duals, invitationals and section championships to the national championships - further prepares him for his goal of qualifying for the Olympic trials. And while the prospect of making the Olympic team has fueled his swimming career, a greater force has taken over.

Carpenter, a Mormon, chose to accept a full scholarship to swim at Brigham Young University. BYU is a top national program, but it is not a powerhouse such as Auburn, Texas, USC or Ohio State, where Carpenter also had offers.

``It came through a lot of prayer and a lot of fasting,'' Carpenter said of the decision, which he made last week.

Mormon students are expected to go a two-year mission, which Carpenter plans to do after his freshman year at BYU. Carpenter does not know where he will be transferred for his mission, just that it will be somewhere in the world and that swimming will not be involved.

The Olympic trials are in August, 2000, with the Games in October. If he qualified for the Olympic team, he would have to postpone his mission, causing a setback to his future preparations for the 2004 Olympics.

It is 2004 when Carpenter will likely have his best chance to medal.

``As the 19th-best American (at the National Championships last month), he's on the outside looking in,'' said Terry Stoddard, Carpenter's club swimming coach. ``If he makes the time standard (in 2000), he can just go to the (Olympic trials) and have fun and enjoy the experience.''

To make the Olympic team, Carpenter will have to finish among the top two of about 50 swimmers in the 100-meter butterfly at the Olympic trials. His best time is the 56.24 he posted at the National Championships. The Olympic time standard is 55.39

``He's got about a one-second improvement to make the standard and that's our goal,'' said Stoddard, who has coached a swimmer to fifth place or better at the past four Olympics. ``He's on a logical progression to achieve that goal.''

Making the Olympic trials would be just another accomplishment to add to Carpenter's list, but he's after a medal. And realistically, two years off from the sport might be an obstacle he cannot overcome.

But Stoddard has coached other swimmers who went on missions and he said, ``99 per cent of them come back more dedicated and more passionate about swimming.''

Should his Olympic goals elude him, Carpenter says he will have no regrets. He will have a figurative pool of memories from which he can recall his past triumphs and, more important, the relationships the sport has fostered.

But, right now, as his competitive inclinations dictate, he is looking only as far as the Southern Section championships.

``It's my main priority right now,'' he said. ``It's important for me to go out my senior year and give it my best. I would just love to bring another (section) championship back to Crescenta Valley.''

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PHOTO A Mormon mission will interrupt Kenny Carpenter's swimming career at BYU.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News