San Pedro Y Swimmers Win Top 10 Ranking

Four boys from the San Pedro Peninsula YMCA swim team qualified for a top 10 national ranking with their relay performance over the weekend at the Far Western National swim meet.

Competing at Concord in the 11-12 age group, Ryan Jones in freestyle, Patrick Ignacio in breaststroke, James Park in butterfly and Phillip Ignacio in backstroke combined to finish second in the 200-meter medley relay in 2:12.99 and the 400 medley relay in 4:55.18, and third in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:59.05 and the 400 freestyle relay in 4:26.22. More than 1,300 swimmers competed, representing Western states including Hawaii and Alaska, plus Canada, Mexico and Japan.

The boys are coached by Scott Peppard.

Individually, Jones, of San Pedro, won the 50-meter freestyle in 27.56, which placed him in the top 10 nationally in his age group. He also reached the finals in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 200 medley. Patrick Ignacio, of Carson, finished third in the 50-meter breaststroke and his time of 34.29 also placed him in the national top 10.

Jones and Patrick Ignacio also qualified for the Southern California team that will compete in a Western Zone all-star meet in Clovis Aug. 15-19.

Jones qualified by winning the 50- and 100-meter freestyles and the 200 individual medley at the Junior Olympics in Huntington Beach on July 29. Ignacio qualified by winning the 50- and 100-meter breaststrokes.

Park, of Rancho Palos Verdes, also reached the finals in the 50- and 100-meter breaststrokes at the Junior Olympics.