ST. PETERS • The quest to dethrone seven-time champion Rockhurst got off on a good start for two area teams in the preliminary round Friday of the Missouri boys swimming and diving championships at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.
Lafayette and Parkway Central feel good about their chances going into the finals Saturday.
"I feel that we're right in the middle of things," Parkway Central coach Kevin Mabie said. "We're in position to finish first. There are five events where we have the potential to win."
Lafayette coach Todd Gabel was optimistic as well.
"We swam really well," Gabel said. "We got everyone through who I thought we would. I think it is going to come down to us and Rockhurst, and it could come down to diving. They have four and I only have one."
No team scores were posted Friday as the top swimmers from across the state splashed through preliminary heats to determine the field for Saturday's finals, which get underway at 3 p.m.
The Lancers closed Friday's swimming in high style, posting the day's best time in 400 freestyle relay. Jon Glaser, Patrick Vega, Lucas Bruder, and Jeffrey Morgan posted an impressive time of 3 minutes, 11.85 seconds.
Parkway Central's Nick Orf had a great afternoon in the preliminaries, finishing with the fastest time in 200 IM in 1:53.7.
Orf will be joined in that event by Francis Howell's Ryan Baker, who placed third in 1:55.42. Also moving on the finals, locally, were Marquette's Kevin Poskin (5th, 1:55.63), Luke Schlueter (6th, 1:55.73), and Brandon Weissman (7th, 1:56.84)
Orf also was a member of the Parkway Central 200 medley relay that had the best time of the day, 1:36.50. Orf was joined with Drew Larkins, Brandon Weissman, and Zachary Biggs. Lafayette's relay team was fourth among the qualifying teams at 1:39.36. John Burroughs set a school record with its preliminary time of 1:39.83. Howell Central also qualified with its 1:41.54.
Timberland standout Andrew Sanoucie's 49.09-second effort was the fastest time in the 100 butterfly. Orf has the second best time, 50.19. Other area stars advancing to the final: Parkway West's Luke Schlueter (51.22), Lafayette's Morgan (52.40), Marquette's Poskin (52.44), and Parkway Central's Biggs (52.99).
"We were confident coming to today," Orf said. "We had a lot of guys move up."
Kirkwood's Max Alander's 47.89 and MICDS's Lunsford Schock's 47.95 put them in the 100 freestyle finals.
In the 200 freestyle, Lafayette placed two swimmers in the top three qualifiers. Vega placed second with a time of 1:42.91 and teammate Glaser was just behind him at 1:42.99. The Lancers also qualified Josh Daminato, who finished in 1:44.34.
Glaser and Vega proved to be a potent one-two punch again in the 500 freestyle. Glaser had the second fastest time in the prelims (4:37.35) and Vega the third fastest (4:37.75). Baker was fifth in the prelims (4:39.25).
SLUH's 1:28 was the fastest time in the 200 freestyle relay. Swimming for the Jr. Billikens were Pieter Derdeyn, Sam Erlinger, Chris Favier, and Amir Paschal. John Burroughs was second in the relay prelims at 1:29.01. Also advancing: Parkway West (1:29.75), Lafayette (1:30.06) and Parkway Central (1:30.12).
Weissman was second in the 100 backstroke prelims with a 53.06. Chaminade's Will O'Shea was fourth in 53.55.
In the 100 breaststroke, Larkins was the No. 2 qualifier at 58.7. Lafayette's Bruder was fifth at 1:00.42, followed by Fort Zumwalt West's Jake Livingston (1:00.58) and Westminster's Easton Noble (1:00.75).
