UPDATE: Rochester’s girls swimming teams are making waves at the state finals today! Just announced, the Class 2A swimming and diving finals are set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, showcasing top talent from Rochester Century, Mayo, and John Marshall.
The Mayo team’s remarkable performance in the 200-yard medley relay has earned them a place in the championship finals. The quartet of Elise Weingarten, Corrina Tonn, Madeline Gau, and Penelope Hauser finished eighth in preliminaries with a time of 1:48.53. This position secures them a chance at All-State honors against the best in Minnesota.
Rochester Century narrowly missed the championship final, with their team of JiaYin Jian-Gross, Sophie Blixt, Chloe Magnuson, and Sarah Homme finishing ninth with a time of 1:49.10. They will compete in the consolation finals alongside John Marshall’s team, which placed 12th.
In individual events, Julia Ogren from John Marshall dominated, winning the preliminary heat in the 100-yard butterfly with a stunning time of 53.88. Ogren will also vie for a title in the 100-yard freestyle after securing a sixth-place finish in prelims with a time of 51.95.
Mayo’s Sophie Blixt is another standout, finishing second in the 100-yard breaststroke prelims at 1:04.37. Last year, she was state runner-up in this event and is poised for a rematch against Logan Havermann, who won prelims with a time of 1:03.91.
The excitement continues with relay events as Century’s team of Magnuson, Homme, Ally Pool, and Blixt finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:38.05. They, along with John Marshall’s relay team, which placed fifth, advance to the championship finals.
As the competition heats up, fans are encouraged to tune in and support their local teams. This is a crucial moment for these athletes, many of whom are competing for the last time in high school.
The Class 1A state swimming and diving championships are also taking place at noon today at the Freeman Aquatic Center. Notable performers include Gracie Greenman from Austin, who finished third in the prelims with a time of 57.97 in the 100-yard backstroke, and Abby Williams from Winona, who is vying for the title in the 100-yard breast after finishing fifth in prelims at 1:06.54.
Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates from this thrilling day of swimming and diving! The stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable. Don’t miss out on seeing who will claim the coveted All-State honors and state titles!
