Shimizu posts 2nd and 5th; Vaqueros take third in Pasadena Invitational

Dany Garza, a freshman from Cabrillo High, swims in the 200 breaststroke. She missed her season best by two seconds.
Dany Garza, a freshman from Cabrillo High, swims in the 200 breaststroke. She missed her season best by two seconds.

Kelee Shimizu took second in the 1650 freestyle and fifth in the 100 free on Saturday, helping SBCC to a third-place finish in the 18th annual Pasadena Invitational women's swimming & diving meet.

Sarah Parson led a 3-4-5 finish in the 100 free with a 54.86 clocking, the fifth-fastest time in school history. Kendra Carr was fourth, just 0.10 behind Parson (54.96), Shimizu placed fifth at 56:02 and Meagan Mckillican was eighth at 57.17.

Mckillican was fourth in the 400 IM (4:56.38) and 10th in the 100 back (1:04.95).

Orange Coast topped the 15-team field with 808 points. Diablo Valley was second at 632, followed by the Vaqueros (543), Mt. SAC (404) and Pasadena (268).

Shimizu's 18:27.14 in the 1650 free is No. 3 on SBCC's all-time list. Alyssa Russell-Sadoff shaved 28 seconds off her PR with a time of 20:58.95. Daniela Garza grabbed 12th in the 200 breast (2:50.11).

The Vaqueros placed third in two relays – the 200 medley and 400 free.

In Thursday's diving, Anna Watkins took sixth in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, scoring 131.65 points in her first try off the 3-meter board.

"It was a great weekend for us placing third as a team," said coach Chuckie Roth. "I think we'll be ready for the Western State Conference championship in a week and a half.

"I'm super proud of this group. They work extremely hard and they deserve the success they're getting right now."

The Vaquero divers will compete in the WSC/Southern Cal Championships on April 13-14 at El Camino College in Torrance. SBCC will go after its fourth straight WSC title in swimming on April 19-21 at Bakersfield.

The Vaqueros are 170-15 in their first five years of swimming. They're 16-0 in WSC competition this year and have won 79 straight dating back to 2015.