SOUTHERN SEC. DIV. IV SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: SHIFLETT HONORS HER FATHER'S MEMORY OAKS CHRISTIAN STAR SETS RECORDS; A.V. SWIMMERS SHINE.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - Every day after practice, Oaks Christian High of Westlake Village junior Brett Shiflett would come home to someone who wanted to know more. Her father, Stephen, a former high school swimmer himself, always was waiting to ask about her times.

He would have been proud of what Shiflett did here Thursday evening during the Southern Section Div. IV championships at Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool.

Swimming in memory of her father, who died of a sudden heart attack Oct. 24, Shiflett shattered a pair of section records, winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 50.90 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 57.32. Her times were so fast, they drew gasps from the crowd when posted.

``I know that I've come a long way,'' Shiflett said. ``I know (my father) would be happy with how I swam today. ... I'd be excited to tell him my times, and he'd tell me it was because of my hard work.''

Her mother, Diana, added: ``It's just incredible what she's done this year. She's had an amazing amount of support from her school and her coaches.''

The section titles were Shiflett's third and fourth in her three years at the school. She also showed she has fully recovered from a knee injury suffered last year during basketball season. Shiflett had to give up the sport as a result, then watched as Oaks Christian won a section championship without her.

But her titles Thursday helped make that all a memory. She dominated the field in the 200 freestyle, winning by 4.13 seconds, before edging out Carpinteria's Emlynn Tursick to claim the 100 butterfly. Tursick previously held the record in the event before Shiflett erased it.

It was a big day, as well, for Highland of Palmdale senior Michele Kumaus and Quartz Hill's boys and girls' teams. Kumaus, who woke up barely able to move Wednesday with a case of the flu, became the first Antelope Valley-area girl to capture a section title.

In fact, Kumaus did it twice. She used a strong freestyle leg to come from behind and beat Notre Dame Academy of Los Angeles' Katie Smith in the 200 individual medley in 2:09.70, dropping more than five seconds from Wednesday's preliminaries. She then added a victory in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.63).

``It feels so awesome,'' said Kumaus, whose older sister, Danielle, started the Highland program eight years ago and was waiting with a poolside hug. ``I couldn't imagine a better way to end my senior year.''

Quartz Hill's girls followed by posting the best score ever for a team from the Antelope Valley, finishing second to Carpinteria 184-176. The boys also took home a trophy, tying for second with Pacifica of Oxnard at 119. Los Altos won the boys' title with a score of 278.

The Quartz Hill girls flexed their muscle from the start, winning the 200 medley relay on senior Jennifer Webb's final leg. Sophomore Sarah Colvin took second in the 50 freestyle, junior Christa Ratcliff placed fourth in the 500 freestyle and the Rebels' 400 freestyle relay finished second.