Big 3 still in hunt for state titles

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Jamestown’s Big 3 is still in the hunt for a handful of state titles after Friday’s preliminary round of the state boys’ swimming meet in Grand Forks.

Junior Willy Marler had the best preliminary time in the 100 freestyle and was second in the 50 free.

Marler’s time of 48.14 in the 100 free not only got him the top seed heading into today’s final round, but it also assured him a spot on the all-state first team. Marler, who was the top seed in the 50 free entering the prelims, touched in a time of 21.81 — nine-tenths better than his seed time. Bismarck’s Josh Reipel took the top spot with a time of 21.61.

Senior Landon Ostlie qualified for the final day in both the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke after finishing with season-best times.

Ostlie locked up the third seed in the IM with a time of 2:01.63 and fourth in the backstroke after finishing in 56.45.

Ian Ballantyne, of Bismarck, is the top seed in the IM after tying the state record with a time of 1:56.67. The mark was previously set by Matt Bonzer, of Grand Forks, in 2003.

Reigning 200 IM champ Obi Obeme is sitting in second in the 200 IM and had the best time in the 100 backstroke.

Chasen Miller is 13th in both the 200 free and the 500 free. The senior beat his seed time in both events by over two seconds.

The individual finals and the relay teams will compete today to wrap up the tournament.

Tags: high school, sports, jays, swimming, marler, ostlie, miller