Lewis-Palmer sets seven records

BY MARTIN HINES

FORT COLLINS - Junior Josh Day and his Lewis-Palmer teammates set seven school records and qualified three relay teams for the 5A state boys swimming championship finals today at the Edora Pool Ice Center after competing in Thursday's preliminaries.

    The 5A finals begin at 3:30 p.m. The 4A preliminaries begin at 9 a.m.

    Day swam the eighth-best time in the 100-yard freestyle to reach the championship final. He also qualified for the championship final as part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

    "It feels like we're really stepping up in state competition," Day said. "I think it's a good sign for the school's future. I've been looking forward to state for a long time."

    Day broke a school record in three of the four events he swam Thursday, including his older brother's Justin record in the 100 freestyle. The 50 freestyle (13th seed) was the only event he didn't break a record.

    "‘I hope to do a better job keeping my spots in that event so I can take the school record from my brother," Day said. ‘That would be big."

    With three relays in the championship finals, Lewis-Palmer has a good chance to finish in the top 10.

    "Last year we broke a lot of records too, but this is a good sign that tomorrow we can break more," Rangers coach Alan Arata said. "We have the guys to make tomorrow a little bit better. What it shows is that we were well prepared for today."

    Cherry Creek, Heritage, Legacy and 12-time defending champion Regis are expected to battle it out today for the team title. Regis has won each year since 1995.

    Jon Munns set or was part of three school records in three events, including the 200 freestyle (14th), 500 yard freestyle (ninth) and the 400 freestyle relay.

    Mitchell standout Dane Van Arkel placed 14th in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

    "Those events give me a lot of hope for tomorrow," he said. "I hope to win the consolation championship tomorrow."

    Pine Creek's Gregg Hutto enters today's consolation finals seeded 15th in the 50 freestyle and as part of the 11th-seeded 200 freestyle relay team.