Younger Entries Shine

To get an idea of how good the next generation of swimmers from Southern California will be, look no farther than Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach on Friday night.

That was where the Southern Section Division I championship meet took place.

It was a meet without suspense--Mission Viejo ran away with the boys’ title with a score of 396.5 and Ventura Buena ran away with the girls’ title with 307--and without many record-breaking performances, but there was quite an audience for the Next Generation.

The girls’ 200-yard Individual Medley was the prime example. In Lane 7 was Olympic-bound Amanda Beard from Irvine High. In Lane 3 was Shannon Cullen of Redlands and in Lane 4 was Jennifer Parmenter of Los Angeles Baptist. All are 14 and all were at the Senior National meet.

Young and fast, but not reckless.

Parmenter won the race with a time of 2:00.82, a Southern Section Division I record and the nation’s fastest high school time this year. She also won the 100 backstroke.

Beard won the 200 breaststroke with a Southern Section Division I record time of 101.79, defeating defending Southern Section record-holder Amber Wines of Santa Ana Valley. Wines bettered her mark from 1:03.2 to 103.1 but still finished third.

The boys’ division was not quite as prestigious, but with Mission Viejo, it had an international flavor.

Mission Viejo had six swimmers from other countries’ national teams, and dominated the boys’ division.

Leading the way was Bart Kizierowski (Poland), who won the 50 freestyle (20.56) and the 100 freestyle (44.61).

Irvine’s girls’ team was lead by Wendy O’Brien, who won the 50 free (23.66) and the 100 free (51.58).