Chiefs qualify seven individuals, three relays for championship finals at districts

MOSES LAKE — It’s pretty simple at this point in the season. If you want to compete in the Washington state swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center Nov. 10-11, you have to finish in the top two in the district meet or meet the state qualifying standard.

Wenatchee has already qualified 10 individuals and all three relays, so Saturday’s NCWAA 4A District 6 championships is merely a way to add depth for its annual run at the 4A state title.

For the rest of the district, it’s a way to earn the right to swim with the best of the best in Washington state.

Moses Lake was third in last week’s Columbia Basin Big Nine meet and set itself up nicely for Saturday by qualifying individuals in seven swims and all three relays at the Tony St. Onge Pool of Dreams.

“We had a great meet last week and we swam better today,” Chiefs coach Tony St. Onge said. “We always try to aim at having our best swims of the season this time of year. We have no qualifiers for state yet, so Saturday is a big day.

“As far as surprises, Lacy Johnson knocked off a bunch of time qualifying for the 50 and 100 freestyle finals. She was not seeded in the top eight coming in and she (qualified) in both races. We had some of our newer kids step up. Jessica Williams popped a good time in the breaststroke. So we’ll see what happens on Saturday.”

St. Onge said he’s still sorting through possible relay lineups, but they went with the A-team in the 200-yard medley and the Chiefs held their own against Wenatchee. Anna Fair, Jessica Williams, Cora Dana, Lacy Johnson put together a time of 1 minute, 58.23 seconds to finish second behind the Panthers, which won in 1:53.12. Where Wenatchee swam three seconds slower than its seed time, the Chiefs opened it up, swimming three seconds faster than the 2:01.04 they posted coming in.

Three-time state qualifier Anna Fair qualified for Saturday’s championship finals in both the 100 backstroke (1:02.46) and the 100 butterfly (1:01.73). She was second in the backstroke and fourth in the butterfly.

“This is the first year I didn’t swim on two relays in the prelims,” Fair said. “I felt really good with these prelims. My races were good. I was pushing it today and I’m glad that I did because it will only help me on Saturday.”

The Chiefs sprinters put themselves in a position to make a run for the King County Aquatic Center field with some great individual swims. Cora Dana was second (25.91) in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 (56.79). Johnson rolled sevens in both races, finishing seventh in the 50 in 26.76 seconds and seventh in the 100 in 58.98.

“I swam my fastest times of the year today. We’re on taper right now, so it’s not sprinting 3,500 yards a week,” Dana said. “We worked on technique. We worked on relays, starts and turns.

“I didn’t swim well last week, so I was a lot more mentally tough today. If you don’t have a positive attitude, you’re not going to have positive swims. So I’ve been working on that and it showed today.”

For Johnson, it was a big leap in time and effort. She was 2.5 seconds quicker in the 50 freestyle than her seed time and a little more than close to four seconds faster in the 100.

“I got a new suit yesterday, so I felt so much faster today. I went from a 1:02 to a 58 in the 100,” said Johnson, who was an alternate at the state meet last season. “I went from 28 to 26 in the 50. With preliminaries, the faster you qualify the better lane designation. You try not to be out in lane one, but if it happens it happens.

“The big thing today was focus. We had a great week of practice, so we were ready. I was really proud of how I swam today.”

Jessica Williams had some break-through swims, placing fourth in the in the 200 freestyle (2:10.01) and seventh (1:14.20) in the breaststroke. Brittney Richeson made the 500 championship flight, placing sixth in 6:03.73.

The championship and consolation competition will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Pool of Dreams. Friday’s diving portion will begin at noon.

Moses Lake championship flight qualifiers

200 medley relay: 2. Moses Lake, (Anna Fair, Jessica Williams Cora Dana, Lacy Johnson), 1:58.23

200 freestyle: 4. Jessica Williams, 2:10.01

50 freestyle: 2. Cora Dana, 25.91. 7. Lacy Johnson, 26.76

100 butterfly: 4. Anna Fair, 1:01.73

100 freestyle: 4. Cora Dana, 56.79. 7. Lacy Johnson, 58.98

500 freestyle: 6. Brittney Richeson, 6:03.73

200 freestyle relay: 4. Moses Lake High School (Brittney Richeson, Jaydyn Johnson, Kylie Haws, Reagan Ewing), 2:00.76

100 backstroke: 2. Anna Fair, 1:02.46

100 breaststroke: 7. Jessica Williams, 1:14.20

400 freestyle relay: 4. Moses Lake High School (Brittney Richeson, Taytum Courtright, Reagan Ewing, Kylie Haws) 4:35.14