Girls break personal records in 127-43 swim loss to Torrey Pines

By Joe Naiman

Ramona High School junior Gina Lucas broke her own school record in the 100-yard backstroke April 17 when Ramona’s girls swim team hosted Torrey Pines in a Palomar League meet.

Lucas had a time of 59.43 seconds, which was her first 100-yard backstroke time under a minute. On April 13, 2011, Lucas posted a time of 1:01.07 in that event.

Lucas won both of her individual events against Torrey Pines. She had a time of 59.44 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly race.

Torrey Pines won the meet by a 127-43 score.

“We got mostly fourth, fifth, and sixth with a handful of thirds,” said Coach Jolyn Yanez.

Each school may enter up to three swimmers in each of the eight individual races and up to two teams in each of the three relay events. First place in an individual event is worth 6 points to the school, second place provides 4 points, third place earns 3 points, the fourth-place finisher receives 2 points, and fifth place obtains 1 point. The winning relay team receives 8 points with 4 points given for second place and 2 points for third.

Rachel Hogervorst had Ramona’s only second-place finish in an individual event, setting a personal best with a 50-yard freestyle time of 27.28 seconds. Ramona’s only third-place individual result was in the 200-yard freestyle, where Danielle LaRosa took 2:07.34.

The Bulldogs took second in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Despite the margin of loss, Yanez noted that 42 percent of the varsity and junior varsity individual swims produced best times.

“They’re still working really hard and making some substantial time drops,” she said.

Yanez expects further time drops as the training begins the transition from endurance to speed.

“This time of year is when it starts to get exciting,” she said.