Parmenter Threatens Mark

LONG BEACH —  It wasn’t the national record she was hoping for, but Jennifer Parmenter of L.A. Baptist High still put on a show in the Southern Section Division I swimming finals Friday night at Belmont Plaza.

Parmenter, 16, one of the nation’s top swimmers, broke her own division record in the 200-yard individual medley and cruised to victory in the 500 freestyle.

Parmenter, a sophomore, was shooting for Kristine Quance’s national record of 1:59.53 in the 200 medley, set in 1993 when Quance was a senior at Granada Hills.

Parmenter came within a second of the record, finishing in 2:00.41 and eclipsing her previous high school-best time of 2:00.82, set last year.

“I’m really happy with the time anyways,” Parmenter said. “I dropped a second off my prelim time.”

Parmenter, who won the 500 in 4:51.42, won’t rest until the U.S. Summer National meet in Nashville this summer.

In team competition, Buena saw its chance for a fourth consecutive girls’ title slip away before the finals even began. One of its stars, senior Rebecca Gilman, failed to qualify for the finals in her two events.

Gilman’s times in the 200 and 500 consolation races improved, to 1:52.73 and 5:00.27, but were still not up to her standards. Her times slowed last year because of a thyroid condition, but she appeared to be returning to form before the section meet.

“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Gilman said. “I’m tired and I’ve had a little trouble breathing but I’m not going to blame it on that. I’ll go see the doctor this week to see if anything is wrong.”

After dominating the meet the past three years, the Bulldogs failed to win an individual event and finished third with 158 points, 135 behind first-place Irvine.

“It’s been a great ride but it had to end sometime,” said Buena Coach John Siman.

Senior Liah Kim placed second in both the 200 individual medley (2:05.01) and 100 butterfly (56.61), for Buena’s best individual finishes. Nicole Beck placed third in the 100 backstroke, in 57.01.

The Bulldogs finished third in the 400 freestyle relay (3:35.76) and 200 medley relay (1:51.53).

Noah Cirincione of Agoura capped an impressive senior season with second-place finishes in the boys’ 50 and 100 freestyle events.

A high finish in the 50 freestyle was expected for Cirincione, who finished in 21.03, barely behind winner Matt Burny of Mission Viejo (20.92).

“It was a good, solid swim but not a great one,” Cirincione said. “If I swim my best time [20.91 at the Royal Invitational last month], I win.”

Cirincione had the second-slowest qualifying time in the finals of the 100 freestyle, but finished in 46.10, behind only Burny, who timed 45.28.

Thousand Oaks’ Eric Shafer, who dueled Cirincione throughout the Marmonte League season, placed fourth in the 50 freestyle (21.67) and seventh in the 100 (47.65).

Matt Carter placed fourth in both the 200 and 500 freestyle to help the Buena boys’ team to a fifth-place finish with 149 points. Mission Viejo easily defended its title with 305 points despite being disqualified in the 200 medley relay.

Buena scored the bulk of its points in diving competition earlier in the week.

Thousand Oaks freshman Aron Gyuris was fifth in the 100 butterfly in 52.98.

Westlake finished ninth in the boys’ standings, with Thousand Oaks 10th and Agoura 13th.

Royal sophomore Ingrid Salazar was seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:56.20) and senior teammate Jamie McIntyre was sixth in the 100 backstroke (59.44) and eighth in the 200 individual medley (2:10.32).

Royal finished 16th among girls’ teams. Rio Mesa was 15th.