URGENT UPDATE: Rochester will showcase its talent at the state girls swimming and diving finals this Saturday as teams from Rochester Century, Mayo, and John Marshall excelled during the preliminaries. The finals will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.
In a thrilling start to the meet, Mayo’s 200-yard medley relay team, featuring Elise Weingarten, Corrina Tonn, Madeline Gau, and Penelope Hauser, secured a spot in the finals with an impressive time of 1:48.53, finishing eighth in the preliminaries. This performance guarantees them a chance at the championship title.
Rochester Century’s relay team, consisting of JiaYin Jian-Gross, Sophie Blixt, Chloe Magnuson, and Sarah Homme, narrowly missed the finals, placing ninth with a time of 1:49.10. They will compete in the consolation final alongside John Marshall’s team, which finished 12th at 1:49.98.
In individual events, John Marshall’s Julia Ogren dominated the 100-yard butterfly, clocking in at 53.88 to secure her place in the finals. Blixt and Gau will also compete for state titles in the butterfly, finishing second and sixth, respectively. Ogren is not just stopping there; she will also race in the 100-yard freestyle after finishing sixth in the prelims with a time of 51.95.
The competition remains fierce with several other swimmers aiming for glory. Magnuson and Wayzata’s Brynn McNanley tied for 16th in the freestyle event, necessitating a swim-off to determine who advances. Unfortunately, McNanley clinched the final consolation spot.
Mayo’s 200-yard freestyle relay team, comprising Weingarten, Halle Yuan, Hauser, and Gau, finished a respectable 16th with a time of 3:42.33 and will compete in the consolation finals. Century’s relay squad also performed well, finishing fourth in the same event with a time of 1:38.05.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Blixt continues to impress, qualifying second with a time of 1:04.37. She was the state runner-up last year in this event, securing her status as a contender once again. Century’s Tri and Tonn will also compete for consolation after finishing 19th and 23rd, respectively.
The excitement continues with the Class 2A diving prelims held earlier, setting the stage for an electrifying finals day tomorrow. Austin’s Gracie Greenman, last year’s runner-up, is back to challenge for gold after finishing third in the 100 back preliminaries.
As the clock ticks down to the finals, the stakes rise for all competitors. Rochester’s athletes are set to make history, and the community stands united in support. Fans can expect a thrilling day of competition as these young athletes aim for All-State honors.
Stay tuned for live updates and results as Rochester teams dive into the finals. The anticipation is palpable, and every second counts!
