PENELOPE YAMAUCHI: MONTGOMERY, JUNIOR, SWIMMING

Montgomery's Penelope Yamauchi was determined to perform well last weekend

at the NCS swimming championships, and she did, winning the 200m individual

medley in an Empire record 2:00.98 and finishing third in the 100m

breaststroke.

Yamauchi had qualifying times in eight different events at NCS, showing her

versatility. She also set an all-time Empire best in the 100m breaststroke.

''I wanted to win so bad,'' Yamauchi said. ''I didn't do as well as I'd

liked at the nationals in New York. This helps my confidence.''

''This gives her a big boost for sure,'' said Neptunes' coach Dan Greaves.

''She practices hard, is a pretty good technician and is always smiling.''

Penelope also swam a leg on the third-place 200m medley relay team along

with her younger sister, Sophia, and with the Sims sisters, Amanda and

Stephanie.

Yamauchi had set an Empire best in the 200m IM in Friday's prelims and then

knocked another three seconds off the time in her win.

She and her family moved to Santa Rosa from Napa when she was 11. She then

joined the Neptunes. She's looking forward to the Janet Evans meet and the

summer nationals in Indiana. Colleges are already showing interest in her

swimming skills. She wouldn't mind joining sister Mia at Cal.