CORONADO – As much as Eastlake junior Jacquie Kimmel has looked forward to defending her section swim title, she is even more elated by simply having the chance to compete after being involved in a midseason auto accident.
Kimmel, who escaped serious injury, was a passenger in a vehicle that flipped three times during a single-car accident over spring break. She has worked to regain her swim stroke after spending close to two weeks out of the water.
Nearly back in top form, Kimmel had the fastest time in the 50-yard freestyle with a season-best 23.99 seconds yesterday in the San Diego Section Division I girls prelims at Coronado High. In the 100 backstroke, she finished with the second-best time of 59.23.
Kimmel suffered whiplash and cuts to her head and legs in the April 1 accident. She was riding with two other teens. Kimmel was treated in the emergency room and released that night.
“We were all really, really lucky to walk out of it,” said Kimmel, who was knocked unconscious. “It was the scariest event of my life.”
Upon her return to the pool, Kimmel spent three days at slow speed before gradually regaining her fitness. Now she's in position to challenge the section record in the 50 free (23.75) in the finals Saturday at Coronado.
“My coach (Bryan Monzon) and teammates have been really encouraging,” Kimmel said. “They say, 'No matter what, just be glad that you're doing the sport that you love.' I agree.”
Elsewhere, the stage is set in the finals for a possible four-year sweep of 100 butterfly titles by Poway senior Bianca Casciari, who owns the section record of 55.42, set last year. She had the top qualifying time of 59.10, off her season best of 55.68 a week ago.
In the boys meet, Fallbrook senior Stott Bushnell qualified for a chance to repeat as the 100 free champion with a top time of 45.60, more than a second faster than his title time last year (47.07). In addition, he led qualifying in the 50 free (21.15) after placing seventh a year ago.
“I've made a lot of progress,” Bushnell said. “It comes from swimming so long (starting as a youth).”
Torrey Pines senior Cody Miller recorded leading times in the 200 individual medley (1:55.62) and 100 breaststroke (59.65).
In his bid to defend two titles, San Diego senior Evan Simoni finished fourth in the 200 IM (1:59.62) and fifth in the 100 back (57.08).
