Sandeno, Kim Set Individual Records

Sophomore Kaitlin Sandeno used to marvel at Jennifer Parmenter, who at that time, was one of the top young swimmers in the nation.

So it was understandable after Sandeno of El Toro High broke Parmenter’s record Friday at Southern Section Division I girls’ swimming finals that her grin was from ear to ear.

“I feel so honored to break Jennifer’s record,” Sandeno said after her blazing 2 minutes .19 second victory in the 200 individual medley Friday night. “I always used to watch her when I was a kid at swim meets. I knew that her [Southern Section] record was fast and would be hard to break. But when I dived in, I knew right away I would have a good swim. I said to myself, ‘That was the fastest underwater glide I’ve ever had. . . .’ I felt so fast in the water.”

Sandeno went .22 faster than Parmenter’s 1997 time, which she swam while at Los Angeles Baptist.

Sandeno never trailed in the race and finished almost three seconds ahead of second-place finisher Shannon Cullen of Redlands. Kristen Caverly of San Clemente was third in 2:03.40.

Though not a record swim, Sandeno was almost as impressive in the 500 freestyle, which she won in 4:43.99. Marina’s Jamie Cail, last year’s winner in the event, finished five seconds behind in second.

Irvine’s Daniel Kim, who just missed John Moffet’s 18-year-old breaststroke record on Thursday, broke the mark Friday by going an amazing 54.89, just .50 off the national high school record.

“I just wanted to get my Olympic trial time, I had no idea I would go that fast,” a jubilant Kim said. “I was hoping to get the record in the prelims, but it’s a lot sweeter at finals.”

Los Alamitos senior Mike Harrelson, who swam next to Kim, finished second in 55.92. Harrelson, who sat out his junior year because of an injury, won the 200 individual medley in 1:50.73.

Olympian Amanda Beard of Irvine was named the female swimmer of the meet. The Arizona-bound senior won her seventh and eighth individual Division I events, winning the 100 butterfly (55.82) and the breaststroke in 1:02.77, the second fastest time in her high school career.

The Irvine girls’ won their third consecutive Southern Section Division I title with 393 points. San Clemente was second with 204, and Marina third with 172.

Erin Zehntner of Irvine swam a 1:50.23 to win the 200 freestyle and teammate Stephanie Hsiao won the 100 freestyle in 51.41.

The San Clemente girls’ relay team set a Division I record in the 400 freestyle relay as Sarah Jones, who won the 50 freestyle (23.82), Caverly, Stephanie Chambers and Ari Gardner won the event in 3:28.46. San Clemente also captured the 200 free relay in 1:37.47.

Kyoko Yokouchi of Marina bettered her prelim swim to win the 100 backstroke in 56.19. Freshman Shannon Packard (Santa Margarita) was second (57.53).

Allen Ong’s victories in the 50 and 100 freestyles were keys to Mission Viejo winning their 20th section title since 1975. Mission Viejo finished with 370.5 points. Irvine was second with 318.50 and Redlands was third with 167.

Ong was also a key to Mission Viejo’s two relay victories as the Malaysian foreign exchange student anchored the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and was named the male swimmer of the meet.

Jeff Larson of Marina was able to hold off Mission Viejo’s Juan Veloz to win the 100 butterfly in 50.08.

Ian Prichard of Ventura Buena won the 200 free (1:37.88) and the 500 free (4:21.95).

Freshman Aaron Peirsol of Newport Harbor won his first Division I title winning the 100 backstroke in 50.15.