El Camino Real Boys in Deep at City Section Swim Finals

Granada Hills High will have no problem winning its fourth consecutive City Section girls’ swimming title today at Belmont Plaza.

But as far as the other favorite from the region goes, El Camino Real will have a tougher time winning the boys’ title from defending champion Venice today at 3 p.m. at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

The Conquistadores should do better in individual events, but the Gondoliers had faster qualifying times in the two of the three relays at the preliminaries last week. Since relays count for twice as many points, El Camino Real must excel in individual events.

The Conquistadors are off to a good start. Senior Josh Williams, two-time 100-yard breaststroke champion, had the fastest qualifying times in the breaststroke and 100 freestyle.

Brian Brown, who won two individual events last year as a freshman, was the top qualifier in the 200 individual medley by over eight seconds and was fastest in the 100 backstroke by more than five seconds.

Senior Nathan Baylis, who is seeded second in the 200 freestyle, has the fastest time in the 500 freestyle.

The Highlanders have no such worries. Granada Hills cruised to the title last year with 244 points--beating Palisades by 62 1/2--and returns almost the entire team plus Jennifer Parmenter.

Parmenter, one of the top high school swimmers in the nation, transferred from L.A. Baptist and is the top qualifier in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

But the standout for Granada Hills in the preliminaries was Michelle Nielson.

Nielson was a member of the Highlanders’ 200 medley relay team that set a City Section record the last two years. This year, Nielson has emerged as an individual talent. She set City records in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

Freshman Amy Jones of Cleveland is the only non-Granada Hills girls’ swimmer with a top qualifying time. She set City records in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Blake Nord of Taft has the top time in the boys’ 200 freestyle.

CITY SECTION SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Today, 3 p.m.

Belmont Plaza, Long Beach