FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Cherry Creek High Schools girls swimming team set itself up for a run at a fourth consecutive Class 5A title Thursday by posting the top qualifying times for Fridays finals in two of the three relays and two individual events.
The Bruins had the fastest times in the 200-yard medley and 400 freestyle relays and the second-best mark, behind Regis, in the other relay race, the 200 freestyle, during preliminary competition at Edora Pool Ice Center. The top eight finishers in each event advanced to the finals.
Cherry Creeks Jordan Mattern led the field in qualifying for the 200 freestyle with her time of 1 minute, 52.70 seconds. Teammate Jennifer Oster set the pace in the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.22.
Three other Cherry Creek girls turned in the second-fastest qualifying times in their events, including 200 freestyler Loren Brandon, who gave the Bruins a 1-2 punch in that event.
Cherry Creek, winner of 22 of a possible 33 state championships in the sport, has swimmers in the finals of every event other than the 50 freestyle. The school also has three finalists in the 200 individual medley and two apiece in the 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke.
Boulders Sophie Allen turned in the top preliminary times in both the 100 freestyle, finishing in 52.48, and 100 backstroke, in 57.19 more than a full second ahead of her nearest competitor.
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