2024 CIF State Swim Championships: Prelims Live Recap

2024 CIF State Swimming & Diving Championships

• May 9-11, 2024
• Clovis Olympic Swim Complex
  • Fresno, California
• SCY (25 yards)
• Psych Sheet
• Preview
• Live Results

This weekend’s CIF State Championships is missing big names such as world junior champion Teagan O’Dell, but there will still be plenty of standouts in attendance at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex in Fresno, California.

A few swimmers enter the meet as the top seed in two individual events. Poly-Riverside sophomore Ava DeAnda owns the top times in the girls 100 freestyle (48.82) and 200 free (1:46.70), Nordhoff senior Quin Seider is the favorite in the boys 100 free (53.36) and 200 free (1:35.27), and Torrey Pines senior Logan Noguchi leads the boys 100 fly (46.66) and 100 back (47.55).

Foothill freshman Luka Mijatovic is contesting the 200 free and 500 free at his first high school state championship meet. The young distance phenom has a lifetime best in the 500 free from last month (4:14.83) that is only a couple seconds away from Rex Maurer‘s national high school record from last year (4:12.70).

Stay tuned for live updates below:

Girls 200 Medley Relay – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:39.04, Santa Margarita – 2022
• National HS record: 1:36.98, Carmel – 2023

Top 9:

1. Clovis West – 1:42.72
2. Hart – 1:43.31
3. Santa Margarita – 1:43.97
4. Campolindo – 1:44.04
5. Clovis North – 1:44.21
6. San Ramon Valley – 1:44.31
7. St. Ignatius – 1:44.35
8. Carondelet – 1:44.50
9. Palo Alto – 1:44.73

The Clovis West girls kicked off the prelims session with a top-seeded 200 medley relay time of 1:42.72 behind strong performances from Hailey Marinovich (27.37 back), Hannah Marinovich (27.73 breast), Audrey Hill (24.46 fly), and Sophia Oka-Fedder (23.16 free).

The Central section Division I champions reached the wall more than half a second ahead of runner-up Hart (1:43.31), featuring Aly Yokoyama (25.88 back), Anna Brill (29.99), Caitlin Brown (24.32 fly), and Lily Dormans (23.12 free).

Top-seeded Santa Margarita (1:43.97) eked past defending champion Campolindo (1:44.04) by less than a tenth of a second for the No. 3 seed in tomorrow’s finals session. Santa Margarita went with a lineup of Samantha Cummins (27.72 back), Eileen Song (29.75 breast), Chloe Stinson (24.18 fly), and reigning 50 free champion Gracyn Aquino (22.32 free) for prelims this afternoon.

Clovis North (1:44.21), San Ramon Valley (1:44.31), St. Ignatius (1:44.35), and Carondelet (1:44.50) rounded out the remaining A-finalists.

Boys 200 Medley Relay – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:29.01, Santa Margarita – 2023
• National HS record: 1:26.88, Carmel – 2022

Top 8:

1. Loyola – 1:29.40
2. Santa Margarita – 1:30.98
3. Northwood – 1:31.65
4. Gunn – 1:31.97
5. San Marino – 1:31.99
6. American – 1:32.41
7. Davis – 1:32.49
8. Torrey Pines – 1:32.51
9. Archbishop Mitty – 1:32.85

The Loyola boys shaved time off their winning mark from their section victory last week with a season-best 1:29.40 thanks to Ray Liu (22.62 back), Gavin Santoso (24.66 breast), John Mastandrea (21.98 fly), and Andrew Brown (20.14 free).

Jerry Yan (23.03 back), Nathan Wu (25.36 breast), Daniel Verdolaga (21.45 fly), and Carson Eich (21.14 free) carried top-seeded Santa Margarita to a runner-up finish in 1:30.98. This race is shaping up to be a two-team battle as Loyola and Santa Margarita are the only programs in the state that have been under 1:30 in the 200 medley relay this season.

Northwood (1:31.05), Gunn (1:31.97), and San Marino (1:31.99) were the only other teams in the field under 1:32 in prelims. Cal commit (’24) Edward Huang threw down a blistering 22.60 backstroke leadoff for American to help his squad place 6th in 1:32.41, just ahead of Davis (1:32.49) and Torrey Pines (1:32.51).

Girls 200 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:44.63, Justina Kozan – 2022
• National HS record: 1:41.55, Katie Ledecky – 2015

Top 8:

1. Ava DeAnda (PORI) – 1:47.93
2. Lily Struempf (NOGA) – 1:48.57
3. Ava Portello (DAVI) – 1:48.59
4. Lily Dormans (HART) – 1:48.73
5. Zara Masud (WOBR) – 1:48.78
6. Samantha Hamilton (WILB) – 1:49.35
7. Elisabeth Butler (CARN) – 1:49.60
8. Sarah Beckman (VENT) – 1:49.77
9. Kaydence Bispo (SMRY) – 1:49.86

Top-seeded Poly-Riverside sophomore Ava DeAnda took the top qualifying spot in the 200 free with a time of 1:47.93, more than a second off her entry time from the Southern Section Division I Championships last month. She placed 2nd at the section meet behind Fountain Valley’s Alyssa Ton (1:45.96), who opted to skip this weekend’s CIF States. DeAnda, who placed 3rd last year (1:47.72), has been as fast as 1:46.17 in March.

Northgate senior Lily Struempf snagged the No. 2 seed with a personal-best 1:48.57 in a close battle with Davis senior Ava Portello (1:48.59). Struempf, a UNC commit (’24), shaved a few hundredths off her previous-best 1:48.60 from December. Portello, a Rice commit (’24), was about half a second shy of her personal-best 1:48.04 from March.

Hart senior Lily Dormans (1:48.73) and Woodbridge senior Zara Masud (1:48.78) should also be in the hunt for a podium spot tomorrow after breaking the 1:49 barrier in prelims today.

Boys 200 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:33.58, Rex Maurer – 2023
• National HS record: 1:32.68, Kaii Winkler – 2023

Top 8:

1. Luka Mijatovic (FOOT) – 1:36.69
2. Mason Wendler (NOGA) – 1:36.71
3. Derek Hitchens (NRWO) – 1:37.26
4. Ben Butler (TELI) – 1:37.28
5. Hunter Cehelnik (STMA) – 1:37.36
6. Pierce O’Grady (LACA) – 1:37.57
7. Andrew Maksymowski (NRWO) – 1:37.66
8. Quin Seider – (NORD) – 1:38.02
9. Emiliano Zamudio (JESU) – 1:38.03

Top-seeded Nordhoff senior Quin Seider just barely snuck into the A-final with a time of 1:38.02, just a hundredth ahead of Jesuit junior Emi Zamudio (1:38.03).

Instead it was Foothill freshman Luka Mijatovic who led the way in prelims with a time of 1:36.69, about a second off his personal-best 1:35.39 from last month.

Northgate senior Mason Wendler was right behind Mijatovic in a new lifetime best of 1:36.71. It was the UCSB commit’s first time under the 1:37 barrier as his previous best stood at 1:37.42 from his North Coast victory earlier this month.

Northwood junior Derek Hitchens (1:37.26), Terra Linda junior Ben Butler (1:37.28), Santa Margarita senior Hunter Cehelnik (1:37.36), La Canada senior Pierce O’Grady (1:37.57), and Northwood sophomore Andrew Maksymowski (1:37.66) were separated by less than half a second in the battle for 3rd place.

Girls 200 IM – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:53.38, Teagan O’Dell – 2023
• National HS record: 1:53.38, Teagan O’Dell – 2023

Top 8:

1. Emilia Barck (CAMP) – 2:00.88
2. Maren Byrne (LOAL) – 2:01.14
3. Tori Yamamura (VALE) – 2:01.28
4. Brooke Bennett (GRND) – 2:01.48
5. Natalie Walklett (FLPR) – 2:01.60
6. Eunice Lee (MITT) – 2:01.96
7. Isabel Wu (MITT) – 2:02.06
8. Sophia Munoz-Rodriguez (LIBR) – 2:02.25
9. Isa Chavez-Varela (MSDS) – 2:02.72

Campolindo senior Emilia Barck blasted her third-fastest 200 IM time ever to lead prelims at 2:00.88. The Brown commit (’24) owns a lifetime best of 1:59.66 from last year’s meet, where she placed 4th.

Top-seeded Los Altos freshman Maren Byrne was close behind with a 2:01.14 for the No. 2 seed tomorrow afternoon. Byrne was within a few tenths of her personal-best 2:00.82 from last month.

Tomorrow’s showdown could be crowded as Valencia sophomore Tori Yamamura, Granada sophomore Brooke Bennett (2:01.48), and Flintridge junior Natalie Walklett (2:01.60) also reached the wall within a second of Barck and Byrne. A pair of Archbishop Mitty teammates, senior Eunice Lee (2:01.96) and freshman Isabel Wu (2:02.06), also made the A-final with previous medalists such as Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell and Saratoga’s Kelsey Zhang absent from the field this year.

Boys 200 IM – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:44.94, Colin Geer – 2023
• NFHS record: 1:40.81, Maximus Williamson – 2024

Top 8:

1. Daniel Li (SNMR) – 1:47.24
2. Tim Wu (DOVA) – 1:48.13
3. Devyn Caples (AMVA) – 1:48.26
4. Shareef Elaydi (MITT) – 1:48.32
5. Ray Liu (LOYO) – 1:48.33
6. Brady Calkins (JESU) – 1:48.44
7. Kelson Cantrell (GUNN) – 1:49.27
8. Diego Castaneda (CLVA) – 1:49.72
9. Nathan Wu (STMA) – 1:50.44

San Marino senior Daniel Li separated himself from the pack in prelims with a leading time of 1:47.24, within a second of his best time (1:46.29) from his runner-up finish at the CIF Southern Section Division I Championships earlier this month.

The winner of that race, top-seeded Santa Margarita senior Daniel Verdolaga (1:46.07), failed to qualify for a second swim today with a time of 1:55.47 in prelims for 36th place.

Dougherty Valley sophomore Tim Wu was the only swimmer within a second of Li in prelims with a 2nd-place showing in 1:48.13. He might still have more left in the tank tomorrow as his lifetime best sits at 1:47.64 from December.

Amador Valley senior Devyn Caples took 3rd place in a personal-best 1:48.26, knocking almost a second off his previous-best 1:49.12 from 2022. Archbishop Mitty freshman Shareef Elaydi (1:48.32), Loyola junior Ray Liu (1:48.33), and Jesuit junior Brady Calkins (1:48.44) reached the wall less than a couple tenths behind Caples in prelims. Gunn senior Kelson Cantrell (1:49.27) and Clayton Valley junior Diego Castaneda (1:49.72) rounded out the remaining A-finalists.

Girls 50 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 22.40, Teagan O’Dell – 2023
• NFHS record: 21.59, Gretchen Walsh – 2020

Top 8:

1. Jada Duncan (WHNY) – 22.68
2. Gracyn Aquino (STMA) – 22.88
3. Genesee Quon (MOVI) – 23.12
4. Allison Mann (VIPA) – 23.13
5. Ella Lesnever (BLAI) – 23.24
6. Miranda Stevenson (SARV) – 23.26
7. (TIE) Jojo Brant (PEER)/Audrey Chung (WOOD) – 23.29
9. (TIE) Addy VonderAhe (MOVI)/Caitlin Brown (HART) – 23.34

As expected, the girls 50 free final is shaping up to be a showdown between Whitney junior Jada Duncan and Santa Margarita junior Gracyn Aquino.

The top-seeded Duncan delivered in prelims with a leading time of 22.68 while Aquino, the defending champion, was just a couple tenths behind in 22.88. They were the only two swimmers under 23 seconds in prelims, and both could make a run tomorrow at Teagan O’Dell‘s meet record from last year (22.40).

Monte Vista senior Genesee Quon threw down a new lifetime best to clinch the No. 3 seed in 23.12, just a hundredth ahead of Villa Park senior Allison Mann (23.13). Quon’s previous best stood at 23.32 from last May, when she placed 4th at this meet.

Addy VonderAhe from Monte Vista won a swim-off to advance to the final on Saturday, swimming 23.07 (which would have been 3rd-best if done in prelims).

Boys 50 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 19.57, Ethan Harrington – 2023
• National HS record: 19.11, David Curtiss – 2021

Top 8:

1. Dar Lavrenko (MTVW) – 20.17
2. Miles Blackson-Dunbar (CROS) – 20.18
3. Andrew Brown (LOYO) – 20.41
4. Jacob Wang (WOBR) – 20.57
5. Tyler Porter (BELA) – 20.57
6. Sawyer Jones (SARV) – 20.58
7. Brody Chandler (GRBA) – 20.60
8. Jag Zwaschka (CLEA) – 20.69
9. Isaac Litwiller (LELA) – 20.72

If today’s 50 free prelims were any indication, tonight’s sprint showdown should be a thriller.

Mountain View junior Dar Lavrenko led the field in 20.17, slicing three tenths of a second off his best time from last month. The Cal commit touched just a hundredth ahead of Crossroads sophomore Miles Blackson-Dunbar (20.18), who matched his best time from November en route to the No. 2 seed.

Loyola senior Andrew Brown also equaled his lifetime best on his way to the No. 3 seed in 20.41. The Boston College commit also clocked a 20.41 earlier this month to capture the Southern Division section I title.

Just one hundredth of a second separated the next three swimmers: Woodbridge senior Jacob Wang (20.57), Bellarmine sophomore Tyler Porter (20.57), and San Ramon Valley junior Sawyer Jones (20.58).

Girls 100 Fly – Prelims

• Meet record: 52.26, Mia Kragh – 2019
• National HS record: 49.24, Claire Curzan – 2022

Top 8:

1. Arielle Brotman (LAJO) – 53.44
2. Jada Duncan (WHNY) – 53.59
3. Tori Yamamura (VALE) – 53.63
4. Edana Huang (WOOD) – 53.70
5. Audrey Hill (CLWE) – 54.07
6. Sarah Beckman (VENT) – 54.18
7. Sophia Sim (PRTA) – 54.27
8. Elisabeth Butler (CARN) – 54.31
9. Zara Masud (WOBR) – 54.36

Top-seeded La Jolla senior Arielle Brotman led the way in the 100 fly prelims with a time of 53.44, just a few tenths off her personal-best 53.07 from earlier this month. The Cal commit placed 3rd last year in 54.07.

Whitney junior Jada Duncan was close behind Brotman with a time of 53.59. The UCLA commit led the 50 free prelims (22.68) just a couple events prior. Valencia sophomore Tori Yamamura qualified 3rd in 53.63, taking .12 seconds off her previous-best 53.75 from earlier this month.

Woodside senior Edana Huang was the only other swimmer under 54 seconds in prelims at 53.70. The UCSD commit crushed her previous-best 54.39 from last May, when she placed 6th in this race.

Boys 100 Fly – Prelims

• Meet record: 45.72, Ethan Hu – 2019
• National HS record: 44.97, Scotty Buff – 2023

Top 8:

1. Logan Noguchi (TOPI) – 46.61
2. Jerry Yan (STMA) – 48.08
3. Ryan Makouar (LACA) – 48.17
4. Daniel Verdolaga (STMA) – 48.20
5. Tim Wu (DOVA) – 48.49
6. Shareef Elaydi (MITT) – 48.55
7. Zane Johnson (EALA) – 48.56
8. John Mastandrea (LOYO) – 48.92
9. Taisei Saito (ELSE) – 48.92

Torrey Pines senior Logan Noguchi dominated the 100 fly prelims in 46.61, just a blink off his personal-best 46.54 from December. The Princeton commit was more than a second faster than the rest of the field as nobody else was under 48 seconds today.

A pair of Columbia commits took the 2nd and 3rd seeds behind Noguchi. Santa Margarita senior Jerry Yan posted a 48.08 with La Canada senior Ryan Makouar (48.17) close behind. Yan has been as fast as 47.59 last month while Makouar owns a lifetime best of 47.66 from March.

Santa Margarita senior Daniel Verdolaga bounced back to qualify 4th in the 100 fly (48.20) after missing the 200 IM as the top seed earlier in the prelims session. Watch out for a couple rising stars, Dougherty Valley sophomore Tim Wu (48.49) and Archbishop Mitty freshman Shareef Elaydi (48.55), who also made tomorrow’s A-final.

Girls 100 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 48.43, Amalie Fackenthal – 2018
• National HS record: 46.98, Gretchen Walsh – 2020

Top 8:

1. Ava DeAnda (PORI) – 49.53
2. Gracyn Aquino (STMA) – 50.18
3. Lila Heffernan (SIEN) – 50.27
4. Allison Mann (VIPA) – 50.27
5. Kaydence Bispo (SMRY) – 50.47
6. Madison O’Connell (CARN) – 50.51
7. Ella Lesnever (BLAI) – 50.67
8. Victoria Mori (STMA) – 50.68
9. Jojo Brant (PEER) – 50.72

Poly-Riverside sophomore Ava DeAnda cruised to the top seed in the 100 free as the only swimmer under 50 seconds at 49.53. Her lifetime best is 48.80 from December.

Santa Margarita junior Gracyn Aquino could be DeAnda’s toughest challenger tomorrow after qualifying 2nd in 50.18. The Cal commit has been as fast as 49.95 last month.

Justin-Siena senior Lila Heffernan tied Villa Park senior Allison Mann for the No. 3 seed at 50.27. Heffernan, a Stanford commit, boasts a personal best of 49.41 from last May, when she placed 3rd at this meet. Mann, a San Diego State commit, broke 50 seconds for the first time on her way to the Souther Division II section title.

Boys 100 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 42.92, Ethan Harrington – 2023
• National HS record: 41.81, Maximus Williamson – 2024

Top 8:

1. Quin Seider (NORD) – 43.32
2. Mason Wendler (NOGA) – 44.05
3. Hunter Cehelnik (STMA) – 44.14
4. Nathan Kim (STFC) – 44.34
5. Nate Rasmussen (SMRY) – 44.61
6. Nathan Foucu (TKAC) – 44.78
7. Brody Chandler (GRBA) – 44.81
8. Lucas Crother-Collado (ELSE) – 44.92
9. Ramon Jiang (STMA) – 44.93

Nordhoff senior Quin Seider cruised to the top seed in the 100 free with a time of 43.32, just .04 seconds off his best time from December. The ASU commit also qualified 8th for the 200 free (1:38.02) earlier in the session.

Northgate senior Mason Wendler went a new personal best on his way to the No. 2 seed in 44.05. The UCSB commit knocked a couple tenths off his previous-best 44.32 from NCS prelims earlier this month.

Santa Margarita senior Hunter Cehelnik was also within a second of Seider as the third qualifier in 44.14. The UCSD commit chopped almost a tenth off his previous-best 44.21 from Southern Division I section prelims earlier this month.

St. Francis senior Nathan Kim qualified 4th in 44.34, but he could have more in the tank tomorrow as the MIT commit owns a lifetime best of 43.61 from December.

Girls 500 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 4:41.53, Miranda Heckman – 2017
• National HS record: 4:26.58, Katie Ledecky – 2015

Top 8:

1. Sammie Hamilton (WILB) – 4:48.36
2. Lily Struempf (NOGA) – 4:50.90
3. Ava Portello (DAVI) – 4:51.85
4. Taylor Steelman (SAMA) – 4:52.30
5. Zoe DeFabrique (SCLE) – 4:52.99
6. Sydney Willson (JSER) – 4:53.05
7. Lily Dormans (HART) – 4:53.48
8. Hayley Smith (CIVA) – 4:53.51
9. Rylee Hutchinson (AMVA) – 4:53.69

Top-seeded Wilson senior Sammie Hamilton paced the field in the 500 free prelims with a time of 4:48.36, within a couple seconds of her best time from earlier this month (4:46.63). The Kentucky commit is positioned to bring home her first state title after placing 3rd last year in 4:52.72.

Northgate senior Lily Struempf hit her second lifetime best of the session with another runner-up finish in the 500 free (4:50.90). The UNC commit dropped a couple tenths off her previous-best 4:51.25 from December. Struempf also qualified 2nd in the 200 free with a personal-best 1:48.57.

Davis senior Ava Portello qualified 3rd in 4:51.85, a few seconds off her best time from March (4:49.62). The Rice commit placed 21st in this event last year (4:59.36).

Boys 500 Free – Prelims

• Meet record: 4:15.09, Matthew Chai – 2022
• National HS record: 4:12.70, Rex Maurer – 2023

Top 8:

1. Luka Mijatovic (FOOT) – 4:20.25
2. Charlie Franz (RIAM) – 4:24.94
3. Andrew Maksymowski (NRWO) – 4:25.03
4. Pierce O’Grady (LACA) – 4:26.38
5. Ethan Linville (CLNO) – 4:26.57
6. Jack Ortman (GRBA) – 4:27.39
7. Lucas Jue (POLB) – 4:28.70
8. Roman Dawson (CLEA) – 4:29.23
9. Emiliano Zamudio (JESU) – 4:29.24

Top-seeded Foothill freshman Luka Mijatovic impressed in the 500 free prelims with a time of 4:20.25, more than four seconds faster than the field. The 15-year-old distance star has been as fast as 4:14.83 last month. Mijatovic also led the 200 free prelims in 1:36.69.

Rio Americano senior Charlie Franz clocked a personal-best 4:24.94 to take the No. 2 seed behind Mijatovic. The UCSD commit dropped more than half a second off his previous-best 4:25.54 from December.

Northwood sophomore Andrew Maksymowski qualified 3rd in 4:25.03, a couple seconds off his personal-best 4:22.64 that won him the Southern Division I section title earlier this month.

Girls 200 Free Relay – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:30.90, Santa Margarita – 2023
• National HS record: 1:29.61, Santa Margarita – 2023

Top 8:

1. San Ramon Valley – 1:34.31
2. Santa Margarita – 1:34.71
3. Monte Vista – 1:34.76
4. Campolindo – 1:35.83
5. Carondelet – 1:35.98
6. Torrey Pines – 1:35.99
7. Castilleja – 1:36.09
8. Clovis West – 1:36.11
9. Palo Alto – 1:36.13

Alexis Parkinson (23.88), Avery Knapp (24.21), Sasha Babushkina (23.58), and Miranda Stevenson (22.64) powered San Ramon Valley to the top qualifying spot in the 200 free relay prelims (1:34.31). The quartet touched exactly four tenths of a second ahead of defending champion Santa Margarita (1:34.71).

Genesee Quon carried Monte Vista to the No. 3 seed with her 23.61 leadoff, setting the stage for Zoe Venetta (23.80), Ella Busquets (24.25), and Addy VonderAhe (23.10).

Campolindo (1:35.83), Carondelet (1:35.98), and Torrey Pines (1:35.99) were separated by less than a couple tenths in the battle for 4th place.

Boys 200 Free Relay – Prelims

• Meet record: 1:21.36, Northgate – 2023
• National HS record: 1:19.21, Keller – 2024

Top 8:

1. San Ramon Valley – 1:23.39
2. Loyola – 1:23.74
3. Jesuit – 1:23.94
4. Santa Margarita – 1:23.97
5. Northwood – 1:24.14
6. De La Salle – 1:24.18
7. Davis – 1:24.25
8. American – 1:24.65
9. Clovis West – 1:24.74

Sawyer Jones anchored San Ramon Valley’s 200 free relay (1:23.39) with a 20.22 split to help them earn the top qualifying spot ahead of top-seeded Loyola (1:23.74). Drew Arney (21.30 leadoff), Chase King (20.91), and Nick Tovani (20.96) joined Jones on San Ramon Valley’s relay in prelims.

Loyola went with a lineup of Andrew Brown (20.79), Gavin Santoso (20.93), Kenny You (21.08), and Edward Kim (20.94) during prelims.

Emi Zamudio blazed a 20.62 anchor split to rally his Jesuit squad (1:23.94) past Santa Margarita (1:23.97) by just a few hundredths.

Girls 100 Back – Prelims

• Meet record: 50.96, Teagan O’Dell – 2023
• National HS record: 49.61, Claire Curzan – 2022

Top 8:

1. Madison O’Connell (CARN) – 53.14
2. Ella Busquets (MOVI) – 54.52
3. Coco Quill (STIG) – 54.88
4. Adriana Smith (CAMP) – 55.09
5. Delaney Alonso (MTCA) – 55.19
6. Megan Wang (NEPA) – 55.31
7. Aly Yokoyama (HART) – 55.47
8. Catherine Bowe MTCA) – 55.49
9. Natalie Mak (COPR) – 55.52

Top-seeded Carondelet senior Madison O’Connell established herself as the one to beat in tomorrow’s 100 back final with a time of 53.14 in prelims, just about a tenth off the UCSD commit’s personal-best 53.01 from earlier this month.

The next-fastest swimmer in the heats was Monte Vista freshman Ella Busquets at 54.52, marking a new lifetime best. She dropped almost three tenths off her previous-best 54.81 from last month.

St. Ignatius senior Coco Quill was the only other swimmer under 55 seconds in prelims with a 3rd-place showing in 54.88. It was the first time under the 55-second barrier for the UCSB commit, who knocked a couple tenths off her previous-best 55.09 from December.

Boys 100 Back – Prelims

• Meet record: 46.62, Jonah Cooper – 2018
• National HS record: 45.08, Will Modglin – 2023

Top 8:

1. Logan Noguchi (TOPI) – 47.83
2. Edward Huang (AMER) – 48.04
3. Brady Calkins (JESU) – 48.35
4. Diego Castaneda (CLVA) – 48.49
5. Nathan Kim (STFC) – 48.51
6. Ray Liu (LOYO) – 48.63
7. Jerry Yan (STMA) – 49.03
8. Jack O’Shaughnessy (BIMO) – 49.07
9. Aden Li (BENI) – 49.58

Torrey Pines senior Logan Noguchi posted another sub-48 second effort to lead the 100 back prelims in 47.83, just a couple tenths ahead of American senior Edward Huang. Noguchi, a Princeton commit, was within a few tenths of his personal-best 47.55 that made him the top seed in this event en route to the section title.

Huang, a Cal commit, should challenge Noguchi for the state title tomorrow. He owns a faster lifetime best than Noguchi at 47.47 from December.

Jesuit junior Brady Calkins set a new personal best at 48.35 on his way to the No. 3 seed. He shaved almost half a second off his previous-best 48.79 from last week.

Girls 100 Breast – Prelims

• Meet record: 59.66, Zoie Hartman – 2018
• National HS record: 58.35, Kaitlyn Dobler – 2020

Top 8:

1. Hannah Marinovich (CLWE) – 1:01.03
2. Bianca Nwaizu (LYCN) – 1:01.52
3. Miranda Stevenson (SARV) – 1:01.53
4. Ellie Fitzgerald (CLNO) – 1:01.64
5. Arielle Brotman (LAJO) – 1:01.77
6. Brinley Knoll (SNTG) – 1:02.52
7. Enna O’Young (MITT) – 1:02.66
8. Mia Su (MITT) – 1:02.81
9. Ashely Hong (HARK) – 1:03.07

Clovis West senior Hannah Marinovich led the 100 breast prelims in 1:01.03, half a second quicker than she was on her way to the Central Division I section title last week. The Tennessee commit has her eyes on her first career state title after placing 2nd last year in this event with a personal-best 1:00.74.

Top-seeded Liberty Christian freshman Bianca Nwaizu took the second qualifying spot in 1:01.52, just a hair ahead of San Ramon Valley senior Miranda Stevenson (1:01.53). Nwaizu blazed a personal-best 1:01.03 to win the section title while Stevenson, a UCSB commit, dropped more than half a second off her previous-best 1:02.18 from last week.

Clovis North junior Ellie Fitzgerald (1:01.64) and La Jolla senior Arielle Brotman (1:01.77) also went under 1:02 in the heats to position themselves as podium contenders tomorrow afternoon.

Boys 100 Breast – Prelims

• Meet record: 52.74, Ben Dillard – 2019
• National HS record: 51.16, Reece Whitley – 2018

Top 8:

1. Daniel Li (SNMR) – 53.59
2. Thomas Aguero (CHRI) – 54.99
3. Ty Schneider (MUME) – 55.42
4. Lucas Huckabay (KING) – 55.42
5. Bekzhan Yessengeldy (CCAC) – 55.44
6. Nathan Wu (STMA) – 55.50
7. Isaac Carsel (DAVI) – 55.63
8. Winston Liang (CLNO) – 55.67
9. Ryan Connole (NRWO) – 55.69

San Marino senior Daniel Li scared the 100 breast meet record in prelims with a time of 53.59. The Stanford commit owns a lifetime best from last May (52.43) that is faster than Ben Dillard‘s meet record (52.74) from 2019. Li was also the top qualifier in the 200 IM (1:47.24) earlier in the session.

Christopher senior Thomas Aguero touched more than a second behind Li in 54.99, a few tenths off her best time from December (54.69). The Tennessee commit placed 3rd last year in 55.10.

Murrieta Mesa senior Ty Schneider tied Kingsburg sophomore Lucas Huckabay for the third qualifying spot with a time of 55.42. It was Huckabay’s first time under 56 seconds as his previous best stood at 56.01 from last week. Schneider, an Arizona commit, has been as fast as 54.76 last week.

Girls 400 Free Relay – Prelims

• Meet record: 3:14.80, Santa Margarita – 2022
• National HS record: 3:14.80, Santa Margarita – 2022

Top 8:

1. Santa Margarita – 3:24.85
2. Clovis West High School – 3:26.62
3. St Ignatius – 3:26.73
4. Carondelet – 3:26.74
5. Hart – 3:27.74
6. Monte Vista – 3:28.65
7. San Marcos High School Swim – 3:28.76
8. Davis High School – 3:29.08
9. St Francis High School – 2:39.14

Victoria Mori ripped a 50.92 leadoff to fuel top-seeded Santa Margarita to a prelims-leading time of 3:24.85 in the 400 free relay. Audrey Lee (51.99 split), Ariel Lin (50.81), and Gracyn Aquino (51.13) also helped Santa Margarita hold off Clovis West (3:26.62), St. Ignatius (3:26.73), and Carondelet (3:26.74) for the top qualifying spot tomorrow. The defending champion Santa Margarita girls have been as fast as 3:20.57 on their way to their section title last week.

Clovis West got strong performances from its front half between Audrey Hill (51.39 leadoff) and Sophia Oka-Fedder (50.59 split). St. Ignatius was carried by its back half duo of Ellie Burkhardt (50.80) and Jordan Ash (51.39).

Boys 400 Free Relay – Prelims

• Meet record: 2:56.14, Loyola – 2023
• National HS record: 2:53.80, Keller – 2024

Top 8:

1. Northwood – 3:00.39
2. Santa Margarita – 3:01.71
3. Northgate – 3:02.06
4. Clovis West High School – 3:03.34
5. Jesuit High School – 3:03.47
6. Torrey Pines High School – 3:04.30
7. Loyola – 3:04.33
8. Granite Bay High School – 3:04.41
9. De La Salle High School – 3:04.49

Andrew Maksymowski (44.80), Elson Lee (46.04), Will Chen (45.38), and Derek Hitchens (44.17) combined to carry top-seeded Northwood to the top time in prelims at 3:00.39. They touched more than a second ahead of Santa Margarita (3:01.71), which got a big 43.66 anchor out of UCSD commit Hunter Cehelnik.

Northgate was close behind Santa Margarita for the 3rd seed in 3:02.06. Mason Wendler led off the Northgate quartet with a personal-best 44.08, just a few hundredths off his personal-best 44.05 from earlier in this session. Both performances were faster than his previous best heading into this meet (44.32 from last week).

Defending champion Loyola snuck into the A-final with a 7th-place effort behind Torrey Pines (3:04.30), Jesuit (3:03.47), and Clovis West (3:03.34).