Parson posts four top-10s at Mt. SAC Invitational

Dany Garza, a freshman from Cabrillo High in Lompoc, placed 18th in the 50 breast (36.87), 19th in the 100 fly (1:13.86) and 20th in the 100 breast. (Photo by Ken Sciallo / Sevilla Photography)
Dany Garza, a freshman from Cabrillo High in Lompoc, placed 18th in the 50 breast (36.87), 19th in the 100 fly (1:13.86) and 20th in the 100 breast. (Photo by Ken Sciallo / Sevilla Photography)

Sarah Parson recorded four top-10 finishes at the Mt. SAC Invitational women's swimming & diving meet on Friday, leading the Vaqueros to ninth place.

SBCC only competed in the 1-meter diving on Thursday and the first of two days in the swim portion. Orange Coast topped the 19-team field with 820 poiints and Sierra was second with 575. The Vaqueros took ninth at 169.

Parson, a freshman from Arroyo Grande High and one of many swimmers who helped the Vaqueros win a state title in water polo in the fall, was second in the 100 breast (1:12.31), fourth in the 100 IM (1:05.92), ninth in the 50 free (26.48) and 10th in the 200 IM (2:22.44).

"Sarah Parson had a great meet," said coach Chuckie Roth, who missed the meet because he was coaching his San Marcos High girls water polo team to a CIF championship win over Dos Pueblos. "I feel very confident in her results this early in the season. We swam faster than we did two weeks earlier, so I feel like things are going in the right direction.

"Our divers are also doing a great job of improving their confidence. I think we have a team that will develop a lot over the season and can make a big splash at the end of the year."

The Vaqueros have finished fourth in the state the last two years.

Kelee Shimizu also had a fine performance as she was top-14 in four events. She took seventh in the 100 butterfly (1:07.32), eighth in the 500 free (5:42.65), 11th in the 200 IM (2:25.80) and 14th in the 50 free (27.09).

Meagan Mckillican was eight in the 100 IM (1:08.92), 10 th in the 100 fly (1:11.02) and 17th in the 50 free (27.35).

The Vaqueros will compete in WSC No. 1 (swim & dive) on Friday at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, starting at 11 a.m.