INDIANAPOLIS – Bedford North Lawrence sophomore Emma Gabhart advanced to the state consolation race in the 200-yard individual medley during the IHSAA preliminary races at IUPUI on Friday.
After winning the sectional and setting a school record in that event last week at Southridge, Gabhart posted a time of 2:07.66 to qualify 14th. The top eight after the two prelim sessions qualified for the state final, while places 9-16 earned a spot in the consolation.
Gabhart was seeded 22nd in 2:09.11 but shaved 1.45 seconds off to reset her school record. She is the first BNL swimmer to make the final round since Justine Jones (100 freestsyle) in 2009.
Gabhart did not advance in the 100 breaststroke. She was seeded 25th after setting a school record of 1:06.95 while winning the sectional, but she clocked 1:07.00 in the prelim and finished.
BNL senior Ursula Patton was 32nd in the 500 free. Patton, making her fourth straight appearance in the state finals, touched the wall in 5:41.89.
Action in the state championship and consolation races in all events will begin at 3:30 p.m.
