Hastings sophomore swimmer Tristan Herbst and junior diver Charlie Jensen qualified for state in the 2024 boys 3AA section swim and dive championships held at Teo Rivers High School in Mendota Heights Saturday.
Herbst finished second in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 4:54.31, just under the state qualifying time of 4:51.78. Herbst was also eighth in the 200-yard IM in 2:06.74.
Jensen was fourth in 1-meter diving with a score of 340.70.
“I think we did really well overall,” said Hastings head coach Katie McAlpin. “We got a couple of races to state meet. We came up a little short last year in diving and the 500 and we made both of those this year. Tristan Herbst made the 500 and Charlie Jensen in diving.”
At state, McAlpin said her expectations were, “For Charlie to make it back to finals on Saturday of state meet would be awesome. I think that would be a really good goal for him. And then for Tritan I would love to see Tristan be able to make finals and then also be able to cut time off what he did today.”
The boys state swimming and diving tournament will be held Thursday, Feb. 29 through Saturday, March 2 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.
Oliver Gergen placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle (22.41) and was eighth in the 100 freestyle (50.39). Taylor Schmaltz was seventh in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.69). Thomas Foss finished sixth in the 100-yard butterfly (56.49) and was sixth in the 100-yard backstroke (56.56).
The Raiders were third in the 200-yard freestyle relay with the quartet of Foss, Schmaltz, Gergen and Herbst coming in at 1:31.61. Hastings took fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay with the team of Gergen, Schmaltz, Foss and Herbst finishing in a time of 3:24.44. Hastings was eighth in the 200-yard medley relay with the team of James Jensen, Garrett Watterson, Isaac Schalk and Sammy Green finishing in 1:53.13.
Hastings finished fifth in the section team race with 214 points. Eagan took the section team title with 445 points, followed by: 2, East Ridge, 386; 3, Rosemount, 350; 4, Two Rivers, 218; 5, Hastings, 214; 6, Park, 192; 7, Apple Valley, 177; Eastview, 121.
