Glacier's Loyda top qualifier in 200 free

by The Daily Inter Lake
| February 12, 2011 2:00 AM

BUTTE - Glacier's Jordan Loyda posted the top qualifying time in the 200 freestyle (1:52.63) Friday at the Montana High School Association State Swim Meet at the Butte YMCA pool.

Loyda's margin of victory was just over a second.

The sophomore also swam the final leg on the Wolfpack's 200 freestyle relay, which had the best qualifying time (1:33.52). Glacier finished four seconds ahead of runner-up Helena High.

Swimming on the relay with Loyda were Aaron Murry, Josh Loyda and Logan Streit.

Those four swimmers also had the second-best qualifying time in the 400 freestyle relay and the third fastest time in 200 medley relay.

The top 12 qualifying times in all events advance to today's finals. The top six times advance swimmers to the finals, while those finishing seventh to 12th are in the consolation finals.

Swimming starts today at 11 a.m.

If Loyda wins the 200 freestyle today, he would become the Wolfpack's first individual state winner in swimming.

Also swimming in today's finals are: Lars Thorderson, Flathead, third in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 individual medley; Streit, third in the 100 freestyle; and MaKenna Siebenaler, Glacier, fifth in the 50 and 200 freestyle.

Advancing to the consolation finals are: Jacob Williams, Glacier, ninth in the 200 freestyle and 11th in the 500 freestyle; Samuel Burch, Glacier, 10th in the 200 individual medley; Ben Mason, Flathead, eighth in the 100 butterfly and 11th in the 200 individual medley; Murry, seventh in the 50 freestyle; Josh Loyda, Glacier, 10th in the 500 freestyle; and McKenzie Lane, Flathead, 11th in the 500 freestyle.

Relays in the consolation finals are: Flathead boys, 12th in the 200 medley and ninth in the 200 freestyle; Glacier girls, eighth in the 200 freestyle and 10th in the 200 medley.