Santa Fe Prep 8th grader Sophie Possum qualifies for state swimming-diving championship by finishing first Saturday in the 50-yard freestyle of the Lady Horsemen meet at the Genovese Chavez Community Center

Griffin girls also qualify in the 200 freestyle relay byfinishing second to Taos by 13 tenths in the time of 1:50.92

By Arnie Leshin

Santa Fe Prep 8th grader Sophie Gussom was the lone area girl to qualify for state in an individual event by winning the 50-yard freestyle in 23.95. The Griffins also qualified by finishing second in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:50.92, and right behind Taos’ 1:50.79.

The grueling 500 freestyle went to the Demonettes’ junior Anika Duran in the time of 60:67, beating out St. Michael’s senior Jacqueline Hey, who clocked 62:22.11 for the second spot.

In the one-meter dive, the win went to Lady Horsemen junior Casey Laketos with a score of 123.50.

Duran’s fastest time came on a 36.44 second leg split, and 35.66 for the final leg. Hey’s 33.75 starting leg was the fastest, but Duran gained the lead in the third leg and maintained it.

On the second place Prep 200 freestyle foursome that qualified, the lead leg was senior Kate Schiliro, and she was followed by Gussom, junior Arielle Nathan, and freshman Chelsea Griscom, who raced close to the lead on her anchor leg of a tight finish.

First place in the team scoring went to Albuquerque Cottonwood Classical Prep with 313 points. Next came the Demonettes with 261, the Griffins followed with 164 for sixth place, St. Michael’s took seventh with 159, and the final spot went to Desert Academy with 62 points..