Fairfield swimmers still showing improvement

CEDAR RAPIDS ? Nearly every Fairfield swimmer posted season best times at Saturday?s regional swimming meet at Cedar Rapids Washington, but still didn?t have enough to qualify for the state meet.

Against the top swimmers in Eastern Iowa, Rachel Swanson, who has been battling illness for the past several weeks, came within less than a second of qualifying in the 50-freestyle (26.40). Swanson ? Fairfield?s top sprinter ? qualified in the event one season ago in her sophomore season.

At the eight-team meet, Olivia Hunt and Makenzie Kauffman joined Swanson to lead the Trojans. Kauffman turned in a seventh-place finish in the 100-backstroke (1:04.94) while Hunt finished 14th in her main event ? the 100-butterfly (1:03.07). The three also teamed up with Abby McMahon to swim the 200-medley (1:58.61) and the 200-freestyle relays (1:51.67). Allison Delker and Emily Mueller joined the 400-freestyle relay team that took sixth in a time of 4:19.06.

The top-24 times (plus regional champs if not included), from Saturday?s regional meets across the state qualified for the state meet set for 12 p.m. Saturday in Marshalltown.