Pyro, be sure to check out the published runs and compare them to your current WIP, frame by frame if needed. You should be at least as fast as the current any% in rooms that are comparable. Seeing as you're new to the engine, you don't know all the quirks, but know that we who DO know all the quirks use them constantly. Read the comments in my runs, I mention most of them there. And if something seems weird I'll be happy to clarify, I know I can be confusing sometimes >_>.
And unless you already are, use
memory watch, it helps a lot. PJBoy has an awesome
dump page with a lot of addresses.
A few examples from your WIP:
Choosing save slot C is slower as it has an animation where it slowly floats up to the proper position, save slot A does not do this.
Morphing in midair resets all of your momentum and should only be done as close to the ground as possible unless you want to slow down.
Making a tiny jump before a ledge increases fall speed but decreases horizontal speed.
The hive room was horrible. It's a difficult room, and very luck-based, but that's no excuse for it to be sloppy. Manipulate the flies to be in a better position, don't fall down, taking damage is slooow, avoid it.
You should release left/right the same frame you run off a ledge, and the hold it again 3-4 frames later. This seems really odd but it's faster, a lot easier to see with memory watch.