No Durango High School swimmer is assured a Saturday final at the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Boys Swimming State Championships.
The Demons have two entries that are alternates for semifinal heats after Friday’s action at the Edora Pool and Ice Center in Fort Collins: Josh Miller finished 17th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1 minute, 6.64 seconds to become the first alternate; and Durango’s 400-yard freestyle relay was 18th at 3:40.57 to earn the second alternate spot.
“We’re looking OK, but the problem is there’s no process to do scratches,” DHS head coach Tom Joyner said. “We have to make a decision whether or not we’re going to go (Saturday) or just head home.”
Joyner plans to have a team meeting and see what his team wants to do.
“I’m behind their decision either way,” he said.
The Demons’ 200-yard medley relay of Paul Cross, Ben Miller, Josh Miller and Tommy Pannell was 19th with a time of 1:51.83.
That same team of four swam the 400-yard freestyle relay, too.
“They came together as a team and swam really well,” Joyner said.
Ben Miller was 29th in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:56.87, and Pannell finished 40th in 2:03.28.
Josh Miller finished 19th in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:08.84.
“He did drop a little bit of time,” Joyner said of Josh Miller’s IM. “There was just strong enough competition that he didn’t make it back.”
Ben Miller also was 35th in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:02.55.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
