Miller & Kinney set records in Division I state swim preliminaries

CANTON: Firestone senior Katie Miller and Jackson senior Chase Kinney both had record-setting days in the Division I girls state preliminaries Friday, putting them in prime spots for winning a state title Saturday at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.

Miller set an overall state and pool record in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:58.12.

“Katie and I just talked about setting a tone for this meet,” Firestone coach Cindy Virdo said. “She went out fast. . . . I am so proud of her.”

Kinney set a state record in the 50 freestyle (22.54 seconds) and established a new standard in the state tournament meet in the 100 freestyle (49.70 seconds).

“Chase definitely had great morning swims,” Jackson coach Matt Ziders said. “She is typically more of a night swimmer, but she was able to put up some fantastic times. She had never gone under 23 in the 50 free, so to go 22 anything is awesome. In the 100 free, she had never broken 50 and got under that and into the 49’s. She had phenomenal swims, and I think she can go even lower tomorrow.”

On the boys side, Firestone senior Mark Belanger and Hudson sophomore Ross Palazzo both touched the wall first in two Division I individual preliminary events.

Belanger was posted top times in the 200 freestyle (1:40.78) and the 100 freestyle (46.00). Palazzo snagged first in the 200 individual medley (1:49.26) and 100 breast stroke (54.99).

Cuyahoga Falls senior Andrew Appleby was first in the 100 backstroke in 49.81.

North Canton Hoover compiled the best time in the 200 freestyle relay when junior Stephen Watson, senior Drew Bercaw, senior Robert Tolson and senior Brian Giannetti clocked a 1:24.37.

The Division I swim finals meet starts at 4 Saturday in Canton.