CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships: Elkington leads banner day for Central Section

Clovis West High’s Matt Elkington led a markedly improved performance by the Central Section – and host Clovis Unified in particular – at the second CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships.

Elkington qualified for A finals in four events, with top times in two of them, to highlight section performances during preliminaries Friday at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex. When the finals launch at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, 16 section individuals or relays will be among the top eight, up from 10 during the inaugural state meet last year.

“On the girls side alone we had one girl come back last year (to make an A final,) and this year we have two freshman girls coming back,” Elkington said. “The girls, the guys, it’s just amazing how well we’ve done.”

Individually, Elkington was the top qualifier in the 200 free in 1:37.91 and placed third in the 100 fly in 48.71 seconds.

Elkington also was the anchor of the Golden Eagles’ first-place 400 free relay team (with Austin Krietemeyer, Preston Mayer and Jacob Roberts) in 3:05.18 and the leadoff man on a third-place 200 free relay (Craig McCoy, Tyler Cotton and Roberts) in 1:24.45.

All were automatic All-America times.

“I’m pretty excited. I knew I’d be coming up close on a lot of people,” Elkington said. “But getting first in prelims is kind of reassuring me for my 200 free tomorrow that I might be able to win a state championship. All my events today have been super great. I’ve been able to take them out pretty smooth, not go all-out and still be able to dominate a little bit.”

Clovis’ Graham Hauss also reached the finals in four events, qualifying fifth in the 200 free in an All-America 1:39.07, fifth in the 500 free in a consideration 4:30.38, and driving the fourth-place 200 free relay (with Jacob Rolih, Jesse Serpa and Zach Koch in an All-America 1:24.60) and second-place 400 free relay (Rolih, Seth Nabors and Koch in an All-America 3:06.27).

“I’m really excited and pumped not only for my individual events but the relays, too,” Hauss said. “I know we can come back and be a lot faster, so that’s really exciting to know going into tomorrow.”

Five section girls – Clovis’ Jillian Hatch and Averee Preble, Buchanan’s Stephanie Bartel, Clovis West’s Skylar Elkington and Tulare Western’s Mallory Korenwinder – all made finals individually, as did Clovis West’s 200 free and 400 free relay teams and Clovis’ 400 free relay.

Korenwinder headed up the group by winning the 100 breaststroke in an All-America 1:01.63. Korenwinder, third in the 100 breaststroke last year, made the B final in the 100 fly by placing 10th in a consideration All-America 55.34.

“My races felt really good,” Korenwinder said. “I’m glad I made it back (into the 100 breaststroke A final.) It was a good swim. Last week I was a little faster, so I’m hoping for something more tomorrow.”

Hatch, who didn’t qualify for the state meet individually last year, placed fifth in the 200 free in a consideration 1:49.70. She was 12th in the 500 free in a consideration 4:57.46, making the B final.

“To go from not making it to the finals is really exciting,” Hatch said. “It was coaching and my teammates. I owe a lot to my coaches.”

Bartel, who set three section records last week during the Division I finals, made the state finals by placing fifth in the 200 individual medley in 2:02.75 and ninth in the 200 back (consideration 55.76) to get into the consolation swim.

“When I made goals at the beginning of the year, I said I wanted to be in the top eight at state, and it seemed like such a long shot at that point,” Bartel said. “But it’s awesome to be here and experience the feeling of being able to say, ‘Wow, I can say I’m top eight in the state.”

Skylar Elkington made the final in the 50 free, finishing fifth in a consideration 23.48, while Preble made the final eight in the 500 free, placing seventh in a consideration 4:53.30.

Elkington also helped power Clovis West’s second-place 200 free (All-America 1:35.40) and 400 free (consideration 3:28.47) relay, which both also included Abby Samansky, Caitlyn Snyder and Sarah Snyder.

Preble anchored Clovis’ sixth-place 400 free relay (consideration 3:29.64) along with Hatch, Adie Collard and Audree Preble.

The boys diving finals kicked off the day’s events, with Clovis West’s Colby Evangelinos making the final of three rounds of competition and finishing a section-best 16th with 342 points. The girls diving finals start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 9:18 PM with the headline "CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships: Elkington leads banner day for Central Section."