Here's a few facts about this run, at least the way I been seeing it:
Simon does not go straight to the first mansion he sees. Berkeley is usually to the right and Simon can always get there. However, he defeats monsters, gears up with the crystal, holy water and morning star, then gets a lift from an acid drop to warp to Laruba mansion.
Simon picked a different spot to call a tornado. A few players usually duck at the very end of Jam Wasteland to call a tornado, but the speed of the tornado (at the end point) could be the reason as to how fast Simon went the moment he showed up at the front door of Bodley mansion.
Simon chose to settle for the Morning Star. In the previous run, he did get the Flame Whip. But if the Morning Star was as powerful as the Flame Whip, maybe this saved some time. Research is needed.
Oh, and one more thing I came across:
http://www.vgmaps.com/Atlas/NES/CastleVaniaII-Simon'sQuest-Transylvania.png
On that map link, I noticed there was a guy in a cemetary (the route after crossing a poison marsh from Laruba mansion) that held a silver knife. I don't know if that would play any good role in the future runs, but it does take garlic to get it.