An all-time OSAA meet record in the 200-yard medley relay highlighted a dominant performance by Bend's girls Friday in preliminaries of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 5A swimming championships at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.
The reigning state champion Lava Bears qualified 21 entries for Saturday's finals, far ahead of the next-highest teams, Canby and West Albany, which had eight apiece. Bend had the winning time in nine of the 11 events, including all three relays.
The 200 medley relay team of sophomore Maddie Thornton, junior Hadley Hayes, sophomore Emma Bronson and junior Kamryn Meskill finished in 1:43.03, smashing the OSAA record of 1:44.23, set by Jesuit in 2017.
Meskill (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) and Thornton (200 IM, 100 backstroke) each qualified first in two events. The Lava Bears also got top times from Bronson (100 butterfly) and Hayes (100 breaststroke).
Meskill is going for her third title in the 50 freestyle after winning in 6A as a freshman and 5A as a sophomore. Thornton is shooting for a repeat in the 100 backstroke.
6A
Reigning champion Jesuit and Lakeridge separated themselves from the pack by qualifying 14 and 12 entries for the finals, respectively.
The Crusaders, who have won three of the last four state meets, had No. 1 qualifiers in the 400 freestyle relay and 200 freestyle (senior Sydney Wilson).
Wilson is going for a third consecutive title in the 500 freestyle, but she finished second in prelims to Lake Oswego junior AnneMarie Vlaic, who also qualified first in the 100 butterfly.
Westview senior Stephanie Lee took first in qualifying heats for the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, an event she won last year.
Lakeridge had the top time in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. Pacers senior Rae Dodson recorded the top qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke.
West Linn senior Maeve DeYoung, going for a repeat in the 100 backstroke, qualified first.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Four swimmers going for repeat titles posted the No. 1 times in their events: Cove/Union sophomore Becca Koza (200 freestyle) and senior Sarah Koza (50 freestyle), Molalla senior Marie Mason (200 IM) and Sweet Home junior Kirsten Sautel (100 breaststroke).
Becca Koza, who also won the 500 freestyle last year, switched to the 100 freestyle this year and qualified first. Mason recorded the top qualifying time in the 500 freestyle.
Newport, going for its first team title, and La Grande each secured eight entries for the finals. Newport qualified first in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay and second in the 200 medley relay.
Boys
6A
Jesuit, going for its eighth title in nine state meets, secured 14 berths to Saturday's finals. West Linn (11) and Sunset (10) were next.
The Crusaders lone top qualifier was junior Tenmy Wangpo in the 100 butterfly. Jesuit finished third in two relays and fifth in another.
West Linn got top times from senior Matthew Sexton (200 IM) and freshman Jackson Wroblewski (100 breaststroke).. The Lions also had the No. 1 time in the 400 freestyle relay.
Nelson senior Mason Hopper was the only swimmer to qualify first in two events, the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Hopper won the 200 freestyle last year.
Glencoe had the top times in three events, the 200 medley relay and from freshman Nicolas Lee in the 500 freestyle and senior Mason Leach in the 100 backstroke.
Sunset recorded the No. 1 time in the 200 freestyle relay and was second in the 400 freestyle relay.
5A
Parkrose senior Thomas Olsen (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Caldera junior Campbell McKean (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and West Albany senior Conner Dickerson (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) each qualified first in two events.
Olsen is in position to three-peat in both of his races. Dickerson is defending his two state titles from last year. McKean is going for a second consecutive title in the 200 IM.
Mid-Willamette Conference rivals West Albany and Crescent Valley tied for the meet high by securing 14 finals berths each. Summit is next with eight.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Two-time reigning champion Catlin Gabel and Newport had big days with four and five top qualifiers, respectively.
Catlin Gabel senior Hodge Dauler, last year's champion in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, had the top times in both events. Junior Adam Li qualified first in the 200 IM, which he won last year, and Dauler and Li swam legs on the No. 1 200 medley relay.
Newport got top times from the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, senior Sam Postlewait (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) and junior Ben Hurty (100 backstroke).
La Grande junior Zane Ricker, going for a repeat title in the 500 freestyle, was the No. 1 qualifier.
Newport will have 10 entries in the finals. La Grande has seven qualifiers, and Catlin Gabel, Sweet Home and North Bend have six.
jerryu@osaa.org
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