UPDATE: Rochester’s top girls swimming teams are making waves at the Class 2A state finals today, with key performances that could lead to championship glory. The finals are set to take place at 6 p.m. today at the Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.
In a thrilling opening day, the Rochester Mayo 200-yard medley relay team, featuring Elise Weingarten, Corrina Tonn, Madeline Gau, and Penelope Hauser, secured an impressive eighth place in the preliminaries with a time of 1:48.53, qualifying for the finals. This achievement underscores Rochester’s strong presence in the competition.
While Mayo advanced to the championship finals, Rochester Century’s squad, consisting of JiaYin Jian-Gross, Sophie Blixt, Chloe Magnuson, and Sarah Homme, narrowly missed the cut, finishing ninth at 1:49.10. They will compete in the consolation finals. Meanwhile, John Marshall’s relay team, featuring Kayla Mingo, Abigail Tri, Julia Ogren, and Maysen Pettengill, placed 12th with a time of 1:49.98, also advancing to the consolation round.
The excitement continues with individual events. Julia Ogren from John Marshall lit up the preliminaries, winning the 100-yard butterfly with a stunning time of 53.88. She will vie for a state title this evening. Sophie Blixt from Century also made headlines, finishing second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.37, having been a state runner-up last year.
In the fiercely contested 50-yard freestyle, Chloe Magnuson and Abigail Tri secured 11th and 12th places with times of 24.24 and 24.26, respectively. A swim-off between Magnuson and Wayzata’s Brynn McNanley will determine who moves on to the consolation finals after they tied.
The Rochester teams are not just competing; they are setting the stage for potential All-State honors, with the top eight in each swimming event receiving this prestigious recognition. With each relay and individual event, the stakes are high, and the competition intense.
The atmosphere is electric as fans rally behind their teams, eager to see how these young athletes perform under pressure. The Class 2A diving prelims were held earlier this week, adding to the anticipation for today’s events.
As the finals approach, all eyes will be on these talented swimmers. Will Rochester’s representatives bring home state titles? Stay tuned for live updates as the races unfold.
For those interested in the Class 1A state swimming and diving championships, these will take place at noon today at the same venue, showcasing even more local talent in the pool.
As the clock ticks down to the finals, the excitement is palpable, and the stakes are clear: it’s time to make a splash!
