After just two days of competition, the Montezuma-Cortez swim team has already achieved state-qualifying times for the Class 3A State Championships in eight different events.
Opening the 2016-17 season in Durango last Friday, and then hosting on Saturday in quad meets against Durango, Grand Junction and Montrose, the Lady Panthers got state qualifying times in six individual events and two relays.
Senior Sam Bagge, who competed at state last year in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle, swam a personal best 1:07.00 to win the 100-yard backstroke on Friday, and then tied for second in the 50 free on Saturday to qualify for state in both events.
Sisters Caisey and Bailey Duran also set themselves up for possible state appearances in individual events. Each hit the state-qualifying standard in the 200-yard individual medley, and then Bailey met the required mark in the 100-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle.
Finishing second in the 500 free on Saturday in Cortez with a time of 5:52.43, Bailey not only qualified for state, but she also set a new M-CHS record, breaking the previous mark of 5:54.62 set by Jessie Garbesi in 2007.
“As a freshman, Bailey had made it her goal to beat the 500 record,” said head coach Gayle Earley. “So for four years she’s been working to beat that, and as a senior she did that today. She’s excited, her family’s excited, and I’m excited.”
Along with the six individual events, the Lady Panthers also notched state-qualifying times in two relays.
Bailey and Caisey Duran, Jenna Barner and Bagge came together to swim a 1:51.80 in the 200-yard freestyle relay on Friday, and then combined for a 4:07.16 in the 400-yard freestyle relay on Saturday.
The quartet would have also finished with a qualifying time in the 200-yard medley relay on Saturday, but they were disqualified for a non-simultaneous touch in the breaststroke.
However, Earley said that they can use the DQ as a learning opportunity and that she expects them to qualify in the event at an upcoming meet.
Other notable finishes for the Lady Panthers on Saturday were Caisey Duran’s second place finish in the 100 breast – with freshman Bess McAlpin placing fifth, Bailey Duran took third in the 100 back, Bagge finished fourth in the 100 free, Nanabah Sam was fourth in the 100 free, and Jenna Barner finished fifth in the 50 free and was less than a second away from qualifying for state.
M-CHS has another shot to add state qualifiers to its list this weekend at the CMU Relays in Grand Junction. And then the dive team will be ready for action at the Lady Panthers’ next meet the following weekend at the Montrose Invite.
