Schools

Richfield's 'Fast Four' Swimmers Qualify for State Meet

The qualifiers were led by 100 freestyle section champion Duncan Pederson.

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Richfield High School boys swimming coach Marc Hamren.

The Richfield Spartan Swimmers qualified for state in 6 individual events and 2 relays.  

Spartan senior Duncan Pederson was on fire at Saturday's Section 2A swimming championships at the Richfield pool, winning the 100 freestyle. In the prelims, contested two days earlier on Thursday, he finished second to Monticello's Evan Lahr, who set the meet record at 48.65. Not to be outdone, Duncan turned up the heat in Saturday's final, winning the event and setting his own new meet record of 48.50! Duncan also finished second in the 200 freestyle with a new life-best time of 1:46.47. Duncan's performances qualify him for the state meet next weekend an the University of Minnesota.  

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Spartan senior Andy Petersen also qualified for state in two individual events. He placed second in the 200 IM in 1:59.74. And he placed 5th in the 100 freestyle, going 49.32.  

Rounding out state meet individual event qualifying for Richfield is senior Mohab Eid, who made the cut in two events of his own. Mohab was 4th in the 200 freestyle, with a time of 1:50.31, and was 6th in the 100 freestyle, going 49.97.  

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Richfield also qualified for the state championships in both freestyle relays. In each case, it was the team of Andy Petersen, Duncan Pederson, Mohab Eid, and Ryder Klopp. They placed second in each relay. Second, that is, to Monticello, who has been state champ in the freestyle relays for each of the past two years.  

Coach Hamren commented, "Our 400 freestyle relay went 3:18.42, which is the fastest a Richfield relay has gone since the days of Jeff Lee back in 1984! Likewise, Saturday's performance in the 200 free relay (1:28.63) is the second fastest in the history of Richfield Spartan swimming!"  

When asked about his team's prospects at STATE on March 2 and 3, Coach Hamren explained, "At sections, these four swimmers were only partially rested. They will be completing their tapering-off period during the coming week. The best is yet to come!"  

These Spartan swimmers also placed at sections:  

Nathan Libra (11) - 100 Fly-7th;  500 Free - 9th

Josh Graham (11) - 100 Breast-10th;  50 Free - 16th

Alex Steger (7) - 100 Fly 13th;  100 Back - 16th

Daniel Lokken (9) - 50 Free-15th;  100 Free - 15th

Joe Hamilton (11) - 200 IM-16th;  100 Breast - 16th

Kyle Odefey (8) - 100 Back-16th


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