Soph helps Raiders set relay record
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Whether individual or relay, no record seems safe when Jacquelynn Parker jumps in the pool.
The Hillsborough High School sophomore already is a part of two relay records and is chasing down a third along with an individual mark that has stood for more than a decade.
”We got so close to breaking records last year,” Parker said. “I knew I wanted to bring down time and break records. I want to bring them down more. I want to keep breaking the records.”
Parker teamed up with Lindsay Temple, Heather Good and Rachel Stoddard to set the new 200 medley relay record of 1:52.32. The old record had stood since 1999, but never had a chance.
”We knew we were getting a great freshman,” Parker said of Temple, who has the fastest 100 backstroke time in the state so far. “In backstroke, she’s amazing. We knew that record was going to go.”
The 200 free relay record similarly went down without much of a fight as Parker teamed up with Stoddard, Good and Temple to go 1:41.54 at the Skyland Conference meet.
”We got pretty close to it last year,” Parker said. “We knew we were getting Lindsay and we’d get faster so we got more pumped and went for it.”
The 400 free relay record has stood since 1999 as well, but it too is in danger.
”The 4 free relay, those girls were state champs that year,” said Hillsborough head coach Todd Sudol. “It’s a pretty fast time, but we’re close.”
And Parker is zeroing in on the school’s 50 freestyle record, set in 1999 by 2008 Hall of Fame inductee Aubrey Horvath. Parker is only hundredths of a second behind Horvath’s 24.85 best.
”She’s hit some of her best times in the 50 free,” Sudol said. “She’s had a great year.
”She’s a big part of the relays. She’s the fastest sprinter. She handles all the 50s and 100s and gets a lot of points for us. She swims tough races against some of the best in the state.”
Parker took on some different events as the Raiders topped Union on Monday, 128-42. Parker won the 200 and 500 freestyle races. They were nice, smooth swims, not the sort of all-out races that she is accustomed to with Hillsborough and her club team, Somerset Valley YMCA.
”It gets your heartbeat going,” Parker said.
Nothing, though, gets Parker’s heartbeat going faster than lining up for the relays with the Raiders.
”There’s something about being behind the block with your team,” Parker said. “You get so pumped. Everyone is doing the best they can. It’s so exciting. It’s such a thrill to do that with your team.”
The Raiders typically use Parker at the anchor leg for the 200 medley and 200 free relays, but she’s just as comfortable in the lead leg for the 400 free relay.
”When I anchor, it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “I mostly enjoy starting the relays. I love getting out there first and trying to get the biggest lead I can. Rachel Stoddard is great at finishing.”
The Raiders, too, are looking for a big finish to their season. The win over Union bumped Hillsborough’s season record to 4-4 heading into Tuesday’s final dual meet against New Providence.
”It’s our Senior Meet,” Sudol said. “It’s a home meet, and we’ll try to get some of the seniors in their better events. If I can, I’d like to get some other kids in the meet. But I’d like to try to put together a lineup that we’ll use for the state tournament so they get used to it.”
Said Parker of states: “We get so fired up. We go all out with that stuff.”
Parker is gearing up for the sprints, where she will face some of the state’s top swimmers, as she has all season in the Skyland Conference. Facing the Skyland teams has the Raiders ready for the championship portion of the year.
”It’s a good tough schedule,” Sudol said. “Every meet you have to race fast. You have to put up good lineups. That prepares you for the state tournament.
”Where we are right now, we’re preparing for the county championship Feb. 5 and looking forward to the state tournament and the state championship.”
Parker already has achieved Meet of Champions cuts in the 50 and 100 free, and the Raiders relays — both boys and girls — are among the top 10 in the state.
”For MOCs, we usually try to stack up our relays and try to do one other event,” Parker said. “We’ve gotten so great in our relays, we know how each other works. We know our strengths and weaknesses. We know where we stand, what we can do and what we want to do.”
Parker, who attended a Catholic school before coming to HHS, is more comfortable this season after getting to know a new group of friends. That has allowed her to enjoy her second year of high school swimming even more than her first year.
”I love high school swimming,” Parker said. “YMCA swimming, you’re part of the team, but in the long run it’s more about your race. You really want to focus on your races. With high school swimming, you want to psyche up your team and win relays and work together to beat other teams. In the long run, you want to be the best team.
”I think it’s been going great,” she added. “We work as hard as we can every meet. With YMCA swimming, I know a lot of girls from other teams. I get to see a lot of them at meets. We have a good time racing each other, but in the end, we try very hard.”
Parker is determined to try hard to be a record-setter again by season’s end, and she and the Raiders are determined to add the 400 free relay to their record haul.
”Most definitely,” Parker said. “We’re getting to the peak of our season. We’re working very hard to get it.”