Hayes Caps Career in Fine Form

Jessica Hayes of University ended her high school swimming career in style Saturday at the Southern Section Division II finals at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach, winning her seventh and eighth individual titles.

Hayes, who will attend Arizona in the fall, swam a career-best time of 1 minute 48.32 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle. Her mark missed the division record by 0.22 seconds.

“I’m really happy with the eight titles,” Hayes said. “I was hoping to get the 200 record though, but I went out too fast.’

Hayes swam her first 50 yards in 24.97 and then slowed with each ensuing lap, finishing with a 28.23.

Hayes also won the 100 freestyle in 50.65 and swam on the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. She swam a 26.50 backstroke leg in the medley relay, and a 50.03 on her anchor leg of the 400 freestyle relay.

University finished fifth with 123 points.

On the boys’ side, Hayes’ teammate Jason Berlin shocked even himself with a title in the 100 backstroke.

Berlin, a senior who had been out of the pool for two weeks because of a back injury, said he was out of shape and didn’t taper or shave for the finals. He was disqualified in the 200 individual medley for swimming a butterfly kick on the breaststroke leg, but he recovered to swim a career-best 52.36 in the backstroke.

“I was kind of mad after I got disqualified,” Berlin said. “I just tried not to think about it. I didn’t have a lot of expectations coming into the meet, but that was a great way to end it.”

Troy won two individual titles, as Louis Vayo and Jane Imagane each won the 500 freestyle. Vayo, who swam a 4:31 earlier this year, was disappointed in his winning time of 4:36.92, but he was happy to win a title as a freshman. He also finished third in the 100 freestyle (46.78).

Imagane, a sophomore, won her second consecutive title in the 500, edging Sunny Hills’ Jessica Witt to win in 4:54.64. Witt finished in 4:55.04 and anchored the Lancers’ winning 200 freestyle relay (1:40.39).

The Northwood girls’ team, competing in its first section finals, took home a title in the 200 medley relay and finished fourth as a team with 150 points.

The Timberwolves’ relay team touched just ahead of Mission Hills Alemany, in 1:50.06. Alemany clocked 1:50.36.

Danielle Taylor led off for Northwood and went up against two of the division’s best swimmers, Hayes and Alemany’s Maureen Farrell. Farrell gave Alemany a slight edge, but Emily Cobb pulled the Timberwolves even on the breaststroke. Northwood took a body-length lead on Christie Farson’s butterfly leg, and freshman Jessie Hubert held off Alemany’s Molly Feeney in the final stretch.

La Crescenta Crescenta Valley won its first girls’ title with 198 points. La Verne Damien won the boys’ title with 239 points.