The 2026 CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships are underway, and the preliminary rounds have already set the stage for some exciting races. With the diving finals completed and the swimming prelims underway, the meet is shaping up to be a thrilling showcase of talent. Here's a recap of the preliminary sessions, with a focus on the standout performances and key events.
Diving Highlights
The diving competition saw Saint Mary's junior Lucius Haddad take the top spot with an impressive score of 556.60, a significant lead over the silver medalist, Jasper Nemeth of Palisades, who scored 553.75. On the girls' side, Mater Dei senior Gianna Kenrick dominated with a score of 520.75, more than 30 points ahead of the second-place diver, Hailey Tipton from Pioneer.
Swimming Prelims: Relay Battles
The 200 medley relay saw Campolindo take the top spot with a time of 1:43.40, just two tenths ahead of Davis High School. The boys' relay was won by Valley Christian, who clocked in at 1:29.47, the only team under 1:30. The girls' 200 free prelims saw McKinley Scobie from Foothill High School set the top time, touching in at 1:47.90.
Individual Standouts
Kelsey Zhang, a Saratoga senior and Cal commit, dominated the girls' 200 IM and 100 butterfly events, setting the pace for the rest of the competition. In the boys' 200 freestyle, Northwood senior and USC commit Andrew Maksymowski swam the top time of 1:35.29.
What's Next
The preliminary rounds have set the stage for some intense finals sessions. With the top nine swimmers moving on to the 'A' final and the next nine swimming the consolation final, the competition is far from over. The diving finals and the remaining swimming events will determine the champions of the 2026 CIF State Championships.
Stay tuned for live updates as the meet progresses, and keep an eye out for the standout performances that will shape the championship.
