Another Fresh Face Makes an Impact on City

Jennifer Parmenter isn’t the only newcomer to City Section swimming making a splash this year.

Parmenter, a Granada Hills High junior, cruised to top qualifying times in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 breaststroke Wednesday at the City Section semifinals, but it was Cleveland freshman Amy Jones who established herself as a favorite at Belmont Plaza.

Jones finished the 50 freestyle in 23.88, breaking the section record of 23.04 set by Birmingham’s Gretchen Ballard in 1993.

Less than an hour later, Jones broke Ballard’s mark in the 100 freestyle, timing 51.81 and left opposing coaches in awe. Several peppered her with compliments as she left the pool deck.

Among those Jones beat was Amanda Kim of Granada Hills, who won the 50 and 100 freestyle over several top Southern Section swimmers at the Royal Invitational last month.

“I wanted to forget about the time and just swim,” Jones said. “But I was feeling pretty good going in.”

Jones may be the only individual with a chance against Granada Hills, which is an overwhelming favorite to win its fourth consecutive City title Wednesday at the finals.

Jones was the only non-Highlander with a top qualifying time, but she’s used to top-flight competition.

Jones swims with Canyons Aquatics and competed in the Junior National West regional meet in North Dakota this spring, making the finals in both the 50 and 100-yard events.

“This has been a good year,” Jones said. “Now I want to get to seniors (the U.S. National Championships, held later this summer).”

She is poised to carry on the Cavalier sprinting tradition. Mitchell Hefter of Cleveland won the boys’ 50 and 100 freestyles the past two seasons.

Parmenter, a transfer from L.A. Baptist who has won several national titles, led the Highlanders along with Michelle Nielson.

Nielson, a teammate of Jones at Canyons, set a section record of 58.42 in the 100 butterfly, breaking the 58.69 set by Sangeeta Puri of Palisades last year. Then she broke Puri’s record of 58.48 in the 100 backstroke, finishing in 58.00.

“My times were actually a little off,” Neilson said. “But I’ve got another week still.”

Nielson, Parmenter, Kim and Stephanie Shapiro finished the meet with a 3:43.32 in the 400 freestyle relay, breaking the City record of 3:43.66, set by El Camino Real in 1985.