Pipes-Neilsen Makes Waves at Her Age in Grand Challenge

IRVINE â€”  Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, at 35, could easily have been the mother of the three girls she raced against Saturday during the second day of the Speedo Grand Challenge Swimming Invitational.

Pipes-Neilsen didn’t win the 100-meter backstroke event, being touched-out by 16-year-old Danielle DeAlva of the Irvine Novaquatics, who won in 1 minute 06.77 seconds. Nevertheless, Pipes-Neilsen, from San Diego, was content to finish second at the Heritage Aquatic Complex.

“I love swimming against the young kids,� said Pipes-Neilsen, who was representing the Coronado Navy Swim Club. “I know a lot of them look at me and say, ‘Oh my God, she’s as old as my mother,’ but that’s OK. I love them all.�

Pipes-Neilsen’s other competition in that heat was Jeri Moss, 12, who finished third, and Danielle Taylor, 14, who was fourth.

Pipes-Neilsen, who holds Masters world records for her age group (35-39) in the 200-meter backstroke and the 400-meter freestyle, said she returned to swimming four years ago after a 13-year hiatus.

“I was just burned out from swimming, when I quit. I just couldn’t take it anymore,� said Pipes-Neilsen, who also finished fourth in the 100 butterfly Saturday. “I didn’t do any swimming for all that time. I got into an unhealthy lifestyle. And then one day, I made the decision to get back into the water. And when I got back in, it seemed fresh and fun.�

Since 1993, Pipes-Neilsen has entering as many meets as she can.

“I’m having a lot of fun now,� she said. “My husband also swims, and I can’t think of any other sport I would rather be doing.�

Jennifer Parmenter, 16, of Rose Bowl Aquatics, continued her domination in the women’s events, winning the 200-meter freestyle in a Senior National time of 2:04.97 and the 400 individual medley in 4:54.71, which shattered Alison Fealey’s 1995 meet record of 4:56.02. Parmenter’s club teammate, Amber Drake, was the winner in the 100 butterfly (1:05.32).

Philippe Demers, a senior at Santa Margarita High who was representing the Novaquatics, set a meet record in the 100 butterfly (56.17), breaking Rafael Szukala’s 1996 record of 56.24. Demers also won the 200 freestyle in 1:56.79 and the 400 IM in 4:37.76. Demers will be swimming for USC this fall.

Mission Viejo’s Bart Sikora , who swims for California, edged Gordon Kozulj, who was swimming unattached, to win the 100 backstroke in 58.40.

The Mission Viejo Nadadores lead the men’s competition after the second day with 60 points. Rose Bowl leads the women’s competition with 100 points. The competition concludes today.