Prep Playoffs at a Glance : CITY SECTION BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ SWIMMING FINALS

* Today’s schedule: Finals begin at 3 p.m. at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

* Last year’s champions: Boys--Van Nuys Birmingham; Girls--Palisades.

* Outlook: Kristine Quance of Granada Hills dominated the City Section in swimming for several years, setting numerous records. Quance is at USC, but sophomore Gretchen Ballard of Van Nuys Birmingham hopes to take her place. Ballard has been unbeatable all year and has the fastest qualifying times in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Her 200 preliminary time of 1:54.07 last week was close to a meet record. She hopes her efforts can help Birmingham stop defending champion Palisades. The boys’ competition is wide open. Junior Russell Perkins of Eagle Rock recorded impressive preliminary times in the 50 and 100 freestyle of 21.80 and 48.55 seconds, respectively.