Junior Lisa Boyce (left) and freshman Milee Nelson competed in Friday's IHSA girls swimming state prelims. Boyce advanced to today's finals in the 100 back (championship) and 100 free (consolation). Gargoyle photo by Lor Sligar (click to enlarge)

EVANSTON — Lisa Boyce is still in the hunt for a state championship.

The junior placed fourth out of 38 swimmers in the 100-yard backstroke at the IHSA girls swimming state prelims Friday at Evanston Township High School.

Boyce completed the event in 56.47 seconds, a personal best. By placing in the top six, she qualified for today's championship finals. She swam a 58.71 at last weekend's Champaign Centennial sectional met.

Jane Munro of Evanston Township, a junior, recorded the fastest time (55.56), followed by senior Sarah Galvin of Lisle Benet Academy (55.70) and senior Elisabeth Tavierne of Aurora Rosary (55.99).

Boyce will swim in another event today as well, the 100 freestyle. She placed 10th in prelims out of 31 swimmers, qualifying her for the consolation finals.

Her time of 52.52 was slightly more than one-tenth of a second behind ninth-place Sara Shaner (52.41), a junior from Hinsdale Central. Swimmers who placed seventh through 12th at prelims advanced to today's consolation round.

Boyce swam a 52.19 at sectionals.

Anna Dobben, a senior from Homewood-Flossmoor, won the event with a time of 50.27.

Freshman Milee Nelson completed her season Friday with a 35th-place finish out of 38 swimmers in the 500 freestyle prelims. Her time of five minutes, 28.10 seconds was 2.4 seconds slower than her performance at sectionals (5:25.70).

Adrienne Bicek, a senior from Downers Grove North, recorded the fastest time (4:46.66).

Today's swimming and diving finals will begin at 1 p.m. Check the Gargoyle this afternoon for results.

Uni Performances at IHSA State Prelims

100-Yard Backstroke (Top 12 out of 38 swimmers) *

1. Jane Munro (jr.), Evanston Twp., 55.56
2. Sarah Galvin (sr.), Lisle Benet Academy, 55.70
3. Elisabeth Tavierne (sr.), Aurora Rosary, 55.99
4. Lisa Boyce (jr.), UNI HIGH, 56.47
5. Kelly Ryan (jr.), Oak Park Fenwick, 56.89
6. Hannah Freyman (so.), Peoria Richwoods, 57.04
7. Margo Stanfa (sr.), Rockford Guilford, 57.12
8. Rebecca Stoughton (so.), Peoria Notre Dame, 57.13
9. Alyssa Busch (sr.), East Moline United), 57.26
10. Kelly Dunn (so.), West Chicago, 57.27
11. Alexa Harris (sr.), Moline, 57.32
12. Samantha James (fr.), Winnetka New Trier, 57.80
*Top six advance to championship finals; next six qualify for consolation finals

100-Yard Freestyle (Top 12 out of 31 swimmers) *

1. Anna Dobben (sr.), Homewood-Flossmoor :50.27
2. Kate Shumway (sr.), Winnetka New Trier, 50.85
3. Monica Drake (sr.), Bloomington, 50.88
4. Kelly Hagerty (jr.), Glenbrook South, 50.95
5. Erika Ronning (jr.), LaGrange Lyons, 51.81
6. Francesca Finucane (sr.), Palos Hills Stagg, 52.24
7. Erin Lamb (sr.), Naperville Central, 52.27
8. Maddy Urban (jr.), Winnetka New Trier, 52.37
9. Sara Shaner (jr.), Hinsdale Central, 52.41
10. Lisa Boyce (jr.), UNI HIGH, 52.52
11. Emily Waller (sr.), DeKalb, 52.53
12. Emily Hovren (jr.), Normal University, 52.63
*Top six advance to championship finals; next six qualify for consolation finals

500-Yard Freestyle (Top 12 plus Uni out of 38 swimmers) *

1. Adrienne Bicek (sr.), Downers Grove North, 4:46.66
2. Caitlin Hamilton (sr.), Normal Community, 4:53.93
3. Caitlin Connor (sr.), Hinsdale Central, 4:57.96
4. Sarah Thompson (so.), Evanston Twp., 5:00.52
5. Tori Alland (sr.), Lincolnshire Stevenson, 5:00.62
6. Jessica Wellick (jr.), Wheaton Warrenville South, 5:01.18
7. Laura Cempel (sr.), Frankfort Lincoln-Way East, 5:01.77
8. Emma Smith (fr.), St. Charles East, 5:02.74
9. Kally Fayhee (sr.), Aurora Rosary, 5:04.46
10. Courtney Pope (jr.), Lockport Twp., 5:05.45
11. Rebecca Ramsey (sr.), Evanston Twp., 5:06.39
12. Jessica England (jr.), St. Charles North, 5:06.61
35. Milee Nelson (fr.), UNI HIGH, 5:28.10
*Top six advance to championship finals; next six qualify for consolation finals

Schedule of Events for Today's Championship/Consolation Finals

• 200-Yard Medley Relay
• 200-Yard Freestyle
• 200-Yard Individual Medley
• 50-Yard Freestyle
• Diving
• 15-Minute Break
• 100-Yard Butterfly
• 100-Yard Freestyle
• 500-Yard Freestyle
• 15-Minute Break
• 200-Yard Freestyle Relay
• 100-Yard Backstroke
• 100-Yard Breaststroke
• 400-Yard Freestyle Relay

The consolation finals will be swum immediately prior to the championship finals in each event.