Five individuals/teams finished with the best preliminary race times of the day, including two top times for Gainesville's Colin Monaghan, who touched the wall first in the boys 200 individual medley (1:52.04) and 100 breaststroke (56.59).
Hot on Monaghan's heels in the breastroke was North Hall's Ty Powers (57.19) -- setting the stage for what should be a fascinating showdown in Saturday's championship race.
Ty Powers also put up a top time in the 50 freestyle (20.51) -- while his older brother, Paul Powers set the stage for his final state championship Saturday with an impressive outing in the 100 free, where his top time of 43.66 was good enough for an All-American time -- better than his own state record of 44.02. He also took the second seed in the 100 backstroke (48.92).
Other teams/individuals that advanced to Saturday's medal races included North Hall's boys 200 medley relay team (fourth best preliminary -- 1:37.84) and 200 freestyle relay (top preliminary -- 1:26.04), Riverside Military's Kevin Reale (fifth best 200 free -- 1:45.54) and Buford's Brittany Litke (eighth best -- 59.13).
Only swimmers who finished in the top eight of their preliminaries on Friday can swim for a medal on Saturday, though the ninth-16th best times will all swim for placement on Saturday.
Other swimmers that will compete on Saturday include, Buford's Litke (12th, 50 free, 24.81) and Danielle Brooks (14th, 100 free, 54.59), Buford's girls 200 free relay team (1:45.41), Riverside's Reale (14th, 100 breaststroke, 1:01.29) and William Toth (12th, 100 free, 49.30).
Swimming championship races for Classes A-AAAAA will begin at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday in Atlanta.
Gainesville's Colin Monaghan
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