Rosary sophomore Paige Kowal swam the fastest times in the 200 and 500-yard freestyles in Friday’s preliminaries to lead Kane County-area swimmers into Saturday’s IHSA state finals at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

Kowal swam the 200 freestyle in 1:47.14, then came back to win the 500 freestyle in 4:52.27, both faster than her seed times.

Also in Friday’s prelims, St. Charles North senior Kate Farell swam the fastest 200 individual medley time of 2:01.29, Rosary senior Ariyana Nieckula swam the fastest 100 butterfly time of 53.47, St. Charles North sophomore Thea Bike swam the fastest 100 backstroke time of 53.93 and St. Charles North’s Lucia Negro, Farrell, Hannah Maksimuk and Tessalina Stavropoulos swam the fastest 400 freestyle relay time of 3:24.64.

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