FEDERAL WAY — Jammed up and jelly tight.
That summarizes the situation after Friday’s preliminaries of the Class 4A girls state swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center.
Three-time defending champion Inglemoor used a monster finish in the relays to demonstrate its reluctance to surrender its crown to the chief contenders Ballard and Garfield, who finished two-three in 2006.
Meanwhile, Western Conference power Snohomish, pegged for perhaps a top-six finish remains in the trophy hunt — along with Roosevelt and Juanita — when tonight’s finals unfold.
“This meet is going to be very close all the way through,” Snohomish coach Rob Serviss said. “If it’s on the line in that final event (the 400-yard freestyle relay) it’s going to be rocking in here.”
Jackson and Snohomish each have the chance to affect the outcome as the Wesco squads are seeded fourth and sixth, respectively, in that event.
“We’re just going to come out tomorrow, swim well, take care of business and see what happens,” Serviss said.
Snohomish asserted itself early in its bid to prove this would be more than a three-dog race.
Seeded No. 4 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Panthers foursome of Sarah Shawback, Emily Ferreira, Tessa McCurdy and Amy Ruiz chased top-seeded Garfield (1:50.24) in the third heat and moved up two notches for the finals with a time of one minute, 51.50 seconds, nearly a second off its qualifying time.
That promising start cracked the door for the Panthers on an opening day on which there were four disqualifications — including a pair of No. 1 seeds.
Ferreira followed up her effort in the 200 medley relay by earning the No. 3 seed for the finals of the 200 individual medley with a sparkling 2:10.66. Jackson’s Stephanie Ha is seeded sixth (2:13.11).
Ferreira finished strong by earning the top-seed in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.19).
“(Ferreira) dropped time from districts in that IM and said it felt really smooth,” Serviss said. “She’s a fierce competitor and that (breaststroke) race is going to be fun to watch tomorrow.”
Jackson’s Alana Pazevic posted a 52.29 in the 100 freestyle to retain the top seed for the championship finals and is seeded fourth in the 100 backstroke (59.05).
“I think she’s really going to shine (in the 100 freestyle),” Jackson coach Drew Whorley said. “I just want to see her be a little more aggressive (in the backstroke) … that could be the big difference.”
Snohomish freshman Melissa Randolf came in as the fastest qualifier in the 50 freestyle, but was hampered by a slow start and is seeded No. 6 for the finals.
The good news is Randolf — who came back to qualify No. 3 for the finals of the 100 butterfly — is fast enough to win from any lane.
“Anything can happen in that (50 freestyle) race,” Serviss said. “(Randolf) seemed a little hesitant today but, I’m confident she’s going to be fine tomorrow.”
Jackson’s Marina Pomar-Enders qualified No. 5 in the 500 freestyle in 5:07.32, five seconds faster than her qualifying time and is also in the 200 freestyle finals.
In the 3A meet. Everett’s Martha Pohl was the only Wesco qualifiers, notching the sixth seed in the 200 individual medley.
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