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MISSION VIEJO — Sonora’s Matthew Chai is the type of swimmer who rarely rests before a competition. He trains hard to be ready to race whenever a challenge arises.

“I don’t taper,” he said matter-of-factly.

So just days after posting lifetime-best times at the U.S. International Team Trials in North Carolina, Chai stepped onto the blocks at the CIF-SS Division 2 prelims Tuesday to begin his pursuit of one of the section’s hallowed records:

Two-time Olympian Jeff Kostoff’s 1983 Division 2 record in the 500-yard freestyle, the oldest swimming record left on the section books and the former, longstanding national high school standard.

The Cal-bound Chai felt a bit tired but proved to be a serious threat by clocking a time of 4 minutes, 23.43 seconds at Marguerite Aquatics Complex to highlight qualifying for Friday’s 3 p.m. finals.

Chai, who trains with Fullerton-based FAST club, didn’t unleash his kick until the second half of the race and split his fastest 50 free (24.85 seconds) over his final two laps.

His kick and final split seemed to be hints that he’ll attack Kostoff’s 4:16.39.

Chai’s entry time of 4:16.32, clocked at the recent Mt. SAC meet, is much more than a hint. That time is not only slighting faster than Kostoff’s record but about 3 1/2 seconds off Grant Shoults’ national record of 4:12.87 for Santa Margarita in 2016.

“That’s a tough one,” Chai said. “But I’m going to try to go (for it) if not this week, then next week at state.”

Chai donned traditional trunks, typical of a practice session, in qualifying third in the 200 free (1:41.41).

“I just wanted to use today to get qualified (for finals),” said Chai, who transferred to Sonora from Diamond Bar after last season. “(This) is what I train for. Being in consecutive meets, especially college. You got dual meets. You got NCAAs.”

Chai’s teammate Joey Kling, Laguna Hills’ Tona Zinn and Mission Viejo’s Joey Chang also helped pace the county boys Tuesday.

In the 200 individual medley, Zinn (1:49.64) and Kling (1:50.40) qualified first-second. The Northwestern-bound Zinn took the second seed in the breaststroke (55.22) while the Army-bound Kling earned the No. 2 spot in the backstroke (50.51).

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Chang and El Toro’s Cruz Tester, rivals from the Sea View League, qualified first-second in the 50 free with times of 20.76 and 20.86, respectively.

El Toro’s Henley Kerr qualified first in the girls 100 breaststroke (1:03.42) while Esperanza’s girls 200 medley relay recorded the fastest time (1:47.88).