MINNEAPOLIS -- The object the first day of the state swimming meet is to reach the championship heat, or if you are on the margins -- the consolation heat will do.
As a result, the preliminary round at the Aquatics Center on the University of Minnesota campus resembles a cavalry charge for tickets to a Hannah Montana concert.
There's not room for everyone.
This will be the fourth state meet for sophomore Alissa Tinklenberg. Her section time puts her in the thick of things in the 200 freestyle, an event where she's been third three straight years.
But there are four heats in Friday's launch, a total of 31 swimmers fighting for 16 spots in Saturday's final. She's one of 12 entrants who swam from 1:55.24 to 2:00.48 at the section meet.
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The list includes the defending champion Meghan Weiss of Visitation.
Sarah Hund, a Willmar junior, is the top seed (24.71) in the first heat of the 50 freestyle. Two more heats follow. There are six swimmers with a seed time under 25.0, which Hund cracked for the first time in the section final in her home pool.
The Section 3A 50 freestyle champion was Megan Geyen of Watertown-Mayer/Delano. She's the only two-time defending champion in the Class A field.
The 100 freestyle draw is even more of a log jam than the above events. Both Hund (55.46) and Tinklenberg (55.71) will need to swim exceptional races just to make the second day. There are 20 swimmers stacked up who timed from 52.88 (Weiss) to 55.73 at section meets.
The sprint relay (200 yards) is also tight. Willmar is No. 1 seed in the first heat at 1:41.34. Sartell has the best time coming in at 1:39.67.
Willmar is in the mix to make the championship heat in the 400 freestyle relay though it will likely have to drop time after swimming a 3:45.04 at sections. It's a small opening to the finals and not everyone who swims well gets through.
Molly Hansvick competes in diving at noon today when 32 divers do the first eight dives. The Litchfield senior is back for a second time.
The team trophy is a battle of Metro private and parochial schools with defending champion Visitation (Mendota Heights) having an entrant in all 11 swimming events. Last year the Blazers won their second consecutive and overall title with a 49-point margin over the runners-up from The Breck School of Golden Valley. It was the second consecutive year the teams finished first and second, respectively.
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The Blake School of Minneapolis was third with 168 points. Mankato West in fifth place was the highest finishing public school. Willmar was eighth.
