jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 417-6667
Area swimmers had good showings on Sunday in the NCHSAA regional swim meets to qualify for this week's state championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.
The snowstorms pushed the regionals to a rare Sunday competition, with the 3-A East meet taking place in Goldsboro and the 4-A Central meet at Triangle Sports Plex.
On the boys' side, Chapel Hill won both freestyle relays. They took the 200 relay in a time of 1:30.77 and the 400 in a time of 3:20.45.
Bryce Mendes was a double winner, taking the 200 free (1:48.24) and the 500 free (4:47.84). Evan Renn won the 50 free (22.00), while Christopher Dong took the 100 breaststroke (58.96).
Orange's Mackenzie Robinson was a double winner in the girls' competition with victories in the 200 individual medley (2:08.54) and the 100 butterfly (58.82).
Chapel Hill's Lydia Renn won the 500 freestyle (5:15.28), and Jennifer Lyu was victorious in the 100 backstroke. Katie Leonard won the 1-meter diving with a 321.90.
The diving portion of the state 3-A championships will take place Thursday at Pullen Aquatic Center, while the swimming events are Friday at the Triangle Aquatic Center.
East Chapel Hill's boys won the 400 freestyle relay in a time of 3:22.15.
Luke Hoffer was a double winner for the Wildcats, taking the 200 individual medley (1:58.50) and the 100 breaststroke (1:01.64). Charlie Retter won the 1-meter diving with a score of 441.0.
The East Chapel Hill girls won the 200 medley relay (1:41.60) and 400 freestyle relay (3:42.78).
Dania Marinshaw won the 200 freestyle (1:55.94), Megan Smith took the 200 IM (2:13.11) and Zoe Gan was victorious in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.87) for East Chapel Hill.
Riverside's Chelsea Howard won the 100 butterfly (57.69).
The 4-A diving competition is Wednesday at the Pullen Aquatic Center, while swimming events are Thursday at the Triangle Aquatic Center.
The 1A/2A regional competitions were canceled and all competitors with qualifying times and scores were advanced to the state finals. Diving competition for 1A/2A schools is Friday at Pullen Aquatic Center, and swimming events are Saturday at the Triangle Aquatic Center.
