LONG BEACH — Oak Park High's Khristine Ghemigian won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 53.73 seconds, at the CIF-Southern Section Division IV swimming championships on Thursday night at the Belmont Plaza Pool.

"I knew this was my event," said Ghemigian. "I was very confident I could win. I was in the mental stance. This was my race and I could do it."

The John Hopkins University-bound Ghemigian also celebrated a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (54.16). Her 200 and 100 freestyle finishes qualify her for Tuesday's Masters Meet at Long Beach at 5 p.m. The top two finishers in all four divisions, plus the 16 fastest times make the 24-swimmer field for each race.

Ghemigain, a senior, was the 200 freestyle Division IV champion as a junior.

Oak Park's Adam Mills, a junior, was fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:47.17).

Teammate Ore Wahnishe was 14th (1:54.88) in the consolation finals.

Mills finished third in the 500 freestyle (4:44.05).

Santa Clara sophomore Shelby Brooks was fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:01.04) and earlier was eighth in the 500 freestyle in 5:23.85, dropping a second from her prelim time (5:24.32). Brooks dropped 12 seconds in her race since winning the Frontier League championship.

"This is really exciting," said Brooks. "I still have two more years to race in CIF."

Tim Hedrick, Pleasant Valley Swim Team coach, said Brooks had a tough double with the 200 backstroke only 15 minutes after the 500 freestyle. Brooks turned in a time of 1:01.87 in the 100 backstroke prelims and again swam faster in the finals.

Santa Clara freshman Christina Gomez was 14th in the 200 individual medley (2:22.58).

Cate's Samantha Ryu was fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:01.11) and seventh in the 100 freestyle (55.75).

St. Bonaventure's Frankie Oliver, a senior, placed 12th in the 100 backstroke (58.36).

Ghemigian, 18, credits her success to Class Swimming Club coach Steve Reardon.

Ghemigian is also coached by Cathy Lory of Oak Park, the sixth-year coach.

Oaks Christian's boys will be in the pool this morning at 10 for the CIF-SS Division III prelims featuring the Tri-Valley and Pacific View leagues boys' and girls' swimmers. Oaks Christian is the defending champion in Division III after winning Division IV championships in 2005 and 2006.

Ventura and Buena swimmers will compete today at 6 p.m. in the Division I finals. Alexis Lee of Ventura is one of the standouts along with Buena's Jenna Roy.