Cienega Takes A Chapter In PCC Women's Swim Record Book

A 4-time state champion in her two seasons, Pasadena City College women's swimmer Melissa Cienega has three school records to her credit, but her marks are among the top 5 in a versatile eight different events and 12 if you include relays. The 2-time South Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year secured seven All-American marks overall for 2018, including the state's fastest times in the 200, 500, and 1,650-yard freestyle events.

(Editor Note--previous version included nine and 13, but 50-yard freestyle was only event that Cienega did not finish among top 5).

Nationally, Cienega recorded USA Community Colleges No. 2 time in the mile swim (17:45.47), No. 3 in the 500 free (5:04.30), and No. 4 in the 200 free (school-record 1:53.82).

In other All-American listings, sophomore Jocelyn Jo was No. 7 in both the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke (school-record 2:26.77) and No. 14 in the 200 individual medley. 

PCC had four relay swims achieve a Top 16, which is the state swimming All-American fastest times. In place order, the 200 freestyle relay of Cienega, Jo, sophomore Dain Kim and letterman Sharon Perez was No. 12, the 800 free relay (Jo, Perez, sophomore Lindsay Jensen and Cienega) was No. 14, the 400 medley relay (freshman Maryjane Martinez, Jo, Cienega, and Perez) No. 15, and the 400 free relay (Cienega, Jo, Jensen and Perez) was No. 16. Perez and Jo joined Cienega as participants in all four All-American relay swims.

PCC aquatics is directed by head coach Terry Stoddard.

Here is a list of PCC achievements by Cienega, who committed to continue her swimming career/education with a scholarship to
Cal Baptist University:

2017 state champion, 500 freestyle, 5:03.83, current school record
2017 state champion, 1,650 freestyle, 17:46.85
2017 state second place, 200 freestyle
2017 SCC Co-Swimmer of the Year, champion of 200, 500 freestyle plus 400 individual medley, 4:39.30, *conference record, current school record
2017, 200 backstroke, PCC second fastest ever, 2:18.95
2017, 200 butterfly, PCC third fastest ever, 2:20.73
2017, 400 freestyle relay, PCC fifth fastest, 3:43.90
2017, 400 medley relay, PCC fifth fastest, 4:13.71
2016-17 PCC Women's Athlete of the Year (all sports)

2018 state champion, 500 freestyle, 5:04.30
2018 state champion, 200 freestyle, 1:53.82, current school record
2018, state third place, 1,650 freestyle
2018, SCC Co-Swimmer of the Year, champion of 200, 500, and 1,650 freestyle
2018, 1,650 freestyle, PCC second fastest, 17:45.47 (set at SCC meet)
2018, 1,000 freestyle, PCC second fastest, 10:59.50
2018, 200 individual medley, PCC fourth fastest, 2:15.57
2018, 100 freestyle, PCC fifth fastest, 55.01
2018, 800 freestyle relay, PCC third fastest, 8:21.18
2018, 200 freestyle relay, PCC fifth fastest, 1:42.48
2018, 50 freestyle, PCC eighth fastest, 25.73

Updated PCC School Record List below:

http://pcclancers.com/sports/wswimdive/2017-18/wompccswimrecords18.pdf