2015 California Interscholastic Federation State Swimming & Diving Championships
- Diving: Girls Finals – Friday, May 22 at 8:30 AM / Boys Finals – Saturday, May 23 at 8:30 AM
- Swimming: Prelims – Friday, May 22 at 2:30 PM; Finals – Saturday, May 23 at 2:30 PM
- Location: Clovis Olympic Swim Complex at Clovis West High School in Clovis
- Psych Sheets: Available
- Live Results: Available
- Live Streaming: Available
- Championship Central
For the first time in history the 10 sections of the California Interscholastic Federation have come together to contest a state meet. The inaugural CIF state swimming and diving championships began on Friday, May 22 with the finals of girls’ diving and the prelims of girls’ and boys’ swimming. The finals take place on Saturday, May 22.
Despite the many absences, there were some excellent races in prelims, setting up several finals to pay attention to.
In the 200 IM, despite a cut hand, Ella Eastin of Crean Lutheran put up the top qualifying time of 1:58.44. Dan Albano at the Orange County Register reported that Eastin cut her hand last Sunday and received stitches; she has been training with a glove on all week. Nonetheless, Eastin was the top qualifier in the 200 IM and second in the 100 breast (1:02.11).
Grace Zhao of Palo Alto put up the top time in the 100 breast (1:02.09) by 2/100 over Eastin; she was also the fastest in the 50 free with 22.86. She will be challenged in the latter by JSerra’s Kaitlyn Albertoli (22.89). Albertoli turned out the fastest 100 free time (50.20). Seven of the top eight qualifiers in the 100 free were under 51 seconds.
The 100 fly should be an excellent race, featuring some of California’s strongest butterfliers: Santa Clara’s Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou (53.67), Brittany Usinger of Acalanes (53.84), and Amy Okada of Beverly Hills (54.02).
The boys’ 200 free final will be composed of four sub-1:39s: Oak Ridge’s Bryce Mefford (1:37.48), Liam McClosky of La Costa Canyon (1:37.91), Sheldon Boboff of St. Ignatius (1:38.39), and Robert Guerra from Fallbrook (1:38.59). Mefford was also the top qualifier in the 100 back with 48.54; Benjamin Ho of St. Francis (48.91) qualified second, while Alex Valente of Dos Pueblos was third with 49.47.
Valente is expected to win the 100 fly, having qualified at the top of the field with 47.83. La Costa Canyon’s McClosky (47.98) and Christopher Staka of Aptos (48.45) should keep things interesting. The national high school record in the 100 fly is 45.52; Valente has been 46.00 this season.
There was very little margin of error to make the championship final in the boys’ 100 breast. San Ramon junior Hank Poppe and senior Tyler Lin of Corona del Mar tied for first with 55.03, while the rest of the qualifiers for the “A” final all came in under 56.7.
I like the CIF state meet very much. But what needs to be address is the sand bagging in the relays. This is not the Olympics and relay qualifiers should be the same team in the finals.
Did you see the Girls 200 Medley relay final heat the 8th place seat won by dropping over 4 seconds. They did this by swapping out the breast stoker with Eastin and bringing in a faster flyer. These high school teams can not bring everyone to the State meet or have tons of swimmers that individual qualify in events to do this like they have in Olympics.
I just think that the hard working kids that swim relay preliminary’s and get into finals… Read more »
Kenisha Liu, once again, was amazing! 2 State Championships in the 200 and 100 Free. Nice job Ayala HS Girls.
Ella Eastin won the 200 IM in 1.54.31, not as fast as last week. But swam a new PB in the 100 breast in 1.00.33.
Alex Valente surprisingly beaten in the 100 fly. 46.75 for Xiangfei Xie and only 47.01 for Valente.
It looks like it was an exciting event! Despite being such a small achool, Crean Lutheran came in second by only 10 pts to Jserra, almost winning the CA title! Ella Eastin didn’t break Knutson’s/Hoff’s records, but she won 2 individual and played a part in 2 relay state records! 🙂
anyone else find the streaming video link to be circular? click on the link it takes you to twc community.com click on the cif link within that and it takes you to the cif info page ,which has a link to supposed streaming on twccommunity.com and around and around you go. Thanks Turner!!! any help to get actual streaming would be appreciated.
…but also great swims from CCS and NCS swimmers. (I’m not sure how to edit a prematurely posted comment! ☺️ Obviously not a frequent swimswam commentator.)
I don’t think these records will be reset today, although their times will be close. This has been a long high school season that should have ended weeks ago and most of these swimmers would rather be swimming long course. I’m sure there’s going to be great swims today not just from Eastin and Valente but from CCS and NCS
Huge time drops from swimmers and teams in Division Two!
Seriously! Crean Lutheran had 4 individual top 3 placements and the #1 4×100 Free Relay in prelims! I knew Ella Eastin would do well, but they actually have some depth. I didn’t expect that.
They are an absolute powerhouse, at the Division 2 championships, they had great swimmers in every event and the depth to pair with it. Another shock for me was Arroyo Grande Boys 4×50 free relay, after dropping nearly a second at the Div 2 championships, they’re continuing to improve, and leading the Division 2 teams in that event with All American Consideration. And of course, watch out for Valente tomorrow 😉