Jesuit's girls team moved into a commanding position to win its fourth consecutive state title during prelims Friday in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A swimming championships at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center.
The Crusaders qualified 20 entries for Saturday night's finals. Lakeridge was next with nine, followed by Oregon City and Sunset with seven each.
Jesuit had the No. 1 times in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. Crusaders senior Stela Sufuentes was the Crusaders' lone top qualifier in individual events, finishing first in the 500 freestyle.
West Linn senior Lauren Sexton posted the No. 1 times in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly. Sexton is going for a third title in the 200 IM.
Newberg senior Sydney McDonald, the reigning champion in the 100 freestyle, qualified first in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle.
Oregon City senior Rowan Schmidt qualified first in the 100 backstroke, an event she won last year.
5A
Three-time reigning champion Bend dominated as expected by ushering 17 entries into the finals.
The Lava Bears have eight No. 1 seeds, including the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. Bend got top qualifying times from senior Emma Bronson (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly), senior Maddie Thornton (200 IM, 100 backstroke) and sophomore Rowan Long (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle).
Summit senior Adeline Bennett, last year's champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, tied Long for first place in the 50 and placed second to Long in the 100 by .43 seconds.
Thornton is on track to win her fourth title in the 100 backstroke and third in the 200 IM. As top seeds, Bronson and Canby junior Quincy Taliaferro are in position to claim their third titles in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle, respectively.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Cove senior Becca Koza, bidding to become the fourth girl in state history to win eight individual state titles, qualified first in the 100 freestyle and second in the 200 freestyle.
Koza, who is going for a fourth title in the 200 freestyle, clocked 1:54.83 to finish behind Newport sophomore Ilona Weisz, who timed 1:53.02. Weisz also had the top time in the 500 freestyle.
Newport qualified a meet-high eight entries for the finals, including the No. 1 spot in the 200 medley relay. La Grande has seven finals entries and Catlin Gabel and Valley Catholic have six each.
St. Mary's freshman Bri Chamberland recorded the best times in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Riverdale junior Sam Borus had the top time in the 100 butterfly, an event she won as a freshman.
Boys
6A
Jesuit, which has won the last three team titles and nine of 10, appears to hold the inside track going after earning a meet-high 15 finals entries, ahead of South Eugene (13) and Sunset (12).
Seven of Jesuit's entries placed in the top three, including No. 1 times from senior David Barkley in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
Nelson senior Drew Eubanks qualified first in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. Eubanks is pursuing his fourth title in the 100 breaststroke, a feat not accomplished in the big-school division in 51 years.
McMinnville qualified first in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay and got the No. 1 time in the 100 freestyle from senior Keller Shea.
5A
Thurston, chasing after its first team title, broke 5A meet records in two relays.
Senior Quinn Devenport, junior Brody Wyatt and sophomore Wayko Sanders teamed with junior Aidan O'Brien in the 200 medley relay (1:35.19) and sophomore Griffin Hagemeyer in the 200 freestyle relay (1:28.11) to set the records.
Reigning champion Crescent Valley and Bend have a meet-high 10 entries in the finals, followed by Thurston (nine) and Silverton (seven). Crescent Valley got No. 1 times from the 400 freestyle relay and sophomore Ty Guenther in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.
Silverton has the top qualifier in three events with senior Nolan Horner (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) and sophomore Colin Ross (100 breaststroke). Summit senior Brecken Egeland recorded the best times in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Cascade Christian, Newport and Klamath Union each qualified six entries for the finals in what promises to be a highly competitive team race.
Cascade Christian, going for its first team title, has three No. 1 seeds in junior Myles Anderson (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) and the 200 medley relay. Newport also recorded three No. 1 times with junior Jahan Eibner (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and the 400 freestyle relay.
Philomath junior Lucas Brandt, the reigning champion in the 100 breaststroke, qualified first in the event.
jerryu@osaa.org
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