MANDAN, N.D. -- After preliminary swims Friday at the North Dakota state girls high school meet, Grand Forks Red River has positioned itself for the program's highest finish.
The Roughriders, eyeing a second-place team finish, were led by senior Erin Grabanski's preliminary victories in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
Grand Forks coach Bryan Walls said Bismarck Century is the clear favorite, but the Riders have established themselves as the leading candidate for the runner-up finish.
"We had an incredible prelim meet," Walls said. "We had the best times for everybody but about two races. It was an incredible day."
Leading the way was Grabanski's performance in the 200 IM. She finished in 2 minutes, 6.77 seconds. According to Walls, that's the second-fastest time in the event to come out of North Dakota behind Olympic hopeful Dagny Knutson of Minot, who graduated last spring.
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Junior Ali Church led Grand Forks Central performers, finishing first in the 200 and 500 freestyles.
Grand Forks had four of the top five spots in the 500 freestyle. After Church, Red River's Addy DiCristina was second, Central's Katie Svendson was third and Central's Rachel Svendson was fifth.
"Ali had a great day," Walls said. "All of my 200 and 500 freestylers had a great day."
Finals begin at 1:30 p.m. today.
N.D. state meet
Friday's results
In Mandan
Preliminaries
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Top times and GF performers
200 freestyle -- 1. Ali Church, GFC, 1 minute, 52.65 seconds. 3. Addy DiCristina, GFRR, 1:57.72. 5. Katie Svendson, GFC, 2:00.25. 6. Rachel Svendson, GFC, 2:00.43. 7. Breanna Schmidt, RR, 2:00.62.
200 individual medley -- 1. Erin Grabanski, RR, 2:06.77. 4. Courtney Fisk, RR, 2:16.07. 10. Jamie Skavlem, RR, 2:20.84. 16. Nicole Brelie, GFC, 2:24.10.
50 freestyle -- 1. Courtney Funk, Min, 23.90. 3. Mirna Kojic, RR, 25.03.
Diving -- 1. Ashley Kankelfritz, FS, 166.35.
100 butterfly -- 1. Emily Roche, FN, 59.35. 11. Allison Kroll, GFC, 1:04.74.
100 freestyle -- 1. Courtney Funk, Min, 52.17. 3. Mirna Kojic, RR, 54.13. 5. Breanna Schmidt, RR, 56.04. 14. Molly Sand, GFC, 58.55.
500 freestyle -- 1. Ali Church, GFC, 5:05.40. 2. Addy DiCristina, RR, 5:14.43. 3. Katie Svendson, GFC, 5:16.40. 5. Rachel Svendson, GFC, 5:18.90.
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100 backstroke -- 1. Erin Grabanski, RR, 57.53. 5. Jamie Skavlem, RR, 1:00.35. 14. Erin Burnham, GFC, 1:04.34.
100 breaststroke -- 1. Ellie Roche, FN, 1:07.56. 3. Courtney Fisk, RR, 1:10.05. 13. Nicole Brelie, GFC, 1:13.41.
