Several members of International Falls’ girls swimming and diving team will have the opportunity to qualify for the state meet in today’s Section 7A finals at Grand Rapids.
That’s because Thursday’s preliminary competition resulted in a number of top-eight finishes by Bronco swimmers.
Falls sophomore Breanna Shofner has four opportunities with two individual events and two relays to advance to the Class A state meet, which will be held Nov. 17-19 at the University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Center.
Shofner had the seventh-fastest preliminary time in the 100-yard butterfly in 1 minute, 9.84 seconds. Hibbing sophomore Sammy Bird clocked the top time in 1:05.27.
Bronco senior Rachel Adams and Shofner both will be seeking to qualify for state today in the 50 freestyle. Adams and Shofner had the fifth- and sixth-fastest preliminary times in 26.28 and 26.44, respectively. Grand Rapids sophomore Solveig Viren was the fastest in 24.15.
Two other Bronco seniors are in the running for state in their specialty events. Morgan Bruess clocked the fifth-fastest preliminary time in the 100 backstroke (1:07.82), while Ashley Hasbargen qualified for today’s finals with the sixth-fastest time in the 100 breaststroke (1:17.11).
The best backstroke time of 1:05.8 was clocked Thursday by Grand Rapids junior Nicole Pardinas, while Hibbing senior Kristy Rudberg had the fastest time in the breaststroke at 1:10.69.
All three of Falls’ relay teams made the cut to compete for state today. Bruess, Hasbargen, Shofner and Adams combined for the fourth-fastest time out of nine teams in the 200 medley relay (2:03.15). Hibbing had the top time at 2:00.52.
Bronco sophomore Blair Johnson joined Shofner, Bruess and Adams to also have the fourth-fastest time in the 200 freestyle relay (1:48.93). Grand Rapids had the top time at 1:44.62.
Falls senior Therese Youso and junior Abby Oveson swam with Adams and Johnson to record the sixth-fastest time in the 400 freestyle relay (4:07.43). Grand Rapids clocked the top time in 3:55.19.
The top two individuals and relay teams in each swimming event will automatically qualify for state. In addition, an individual or relay team would qualify for the state meet with a time in the finals that surpasses or equals the established state qualifying standard.
In the Section 7A diving competition that takes place today, four divers may qualify for the state meet.
Other Falls swimmers will be competing for team points in today’s “B” finals among the qualifiers with the ninth- through the 16th-fastest times.
Junior Sarah Todd qualified 10th in the 100 breaststroke (1:19.06) and 11th in the 200 individual medley (2:36.36).
Sophomore Courtney Klow qualified 14th in the 100 backstroke (1:11.86) and 15th in the 100 butterfly (1:16.69).
The Broncos’ other qualifier was eighth-grader Abby Kostiuk with the 16th-best time in the 100 backstroke (1:16.55).
In addition to medals being awarded to the top eight individuals in each event, trophies will be presented to the Section’s top two teams.
