Sanchez break regional record in 100 breaststroke

Friday’s preliminaries of the RegionVIII swim meet are out of the way and now the region’s best swimmers can focus on making State today.

There was plenty of action on tap at the Margret Clark Aquatic Center for fans in attendance to get ex-cited about as one record fell.

McAllen High’s Leah Sanchez put on her best Aqua Man impersonation for the 100 breaststroke en route to breaking the regional and pool record with a time of 1:07.48. While Sanchez stole the show on the individual races the Hanna, McAllen Memorial and Sharyland girl relay teams looked ready for Satur-day.

Sharylands’ Jaime Little, McKenna Dahl, Lorena Cardenas and Justine Maceross claimed the top seed in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:47.28. The Mustangs (Kendal Walker, Jill Merrit, Dana De la Garza and Tiffany Hernandez) had the best time in the 400 freestyle relay (4:02.02) and placed second in the 200-medley relay with a time of 2:02.60.

Hanna swim coach Monica Rosales knew that this year’s regional swim meet was going to be a tight race and Friday’s preliminaries did nothing to dissuade those sentiments.

“The (Hanna) girls did pretty good, they did what they needed to do,” she said. “It’s just going to be such a tight finish and the relays are going to be very important.”

Lady Golden Eagle Elva Saldana was expected to make a splash this year and did not disappoint by claiming the No. 1 seed in both the 200 individual medley (2:18.98) and 500 freestyle (5:31.59). Rosales said she expects Saldana to turn in some fast times today and possibly make it to Austin.

As for the boys, the Porter duo of Jonathan Castillo and Diego Banda handled their business Friday and look to win some individual races. While Castillo coasted to the second seed in the 200 individual medley (2:08.42) and the third in the 100 butterfly (0:56.19), Banda won his heat in the 100 backstroke (0:59.18) and placed second in the 100 freestyle (50.94).

“I was very happy with our performance and I’m expecting a heck of a race on all accounts tomorrow,” Porter coach Luis Roman Ortega said. “(Castillo) should win both events but he’s going to have a lot of competition. Everyone’s going to be shooting for him, but he’ll do well, he doesn’t like to lose.”

Harlingen South (Tony John, Ross Engek, Corderro Salazar and Anthony Dominguez) had the fastest time in the 200 medley relay (1:47.57) was well as the 200 freestyle relay (1:34.33). Sharyland (Jesus Martinez, Albert Espinosa, Edwin Jones and Donald Hay) took top honors in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:30.49.

All of the competitors will take their mark beginning at 10 a.m. today at the Clark Aquatic Center with one eye on a trip to Austin in hopes of a state championship.