The Auburn girls swim team had a strong showing in the Section III, Class A preliminary round at the Nottingham pool on Thursday.

The Maroons qualified most of their swimmers to swim in the finals this morning at Nottingham. Eight swimmers earned lifetime bests in at least one event and the team is confident that they can earn even better times today.

With several heats competing in most events, the top 24 finishers earned the chance to move on to today's round of competition.

Laura Iwanicki finished third overall in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.22). In the same event, Makenzie Hauger (11:15) and Corinne Murray (11:18.19) came in 13th and 24th overall.

In the first event, Kiersten Salemi, Iwanicki, Kelsey Roe and Mallorie Dygert placed fifth (1:57.49), with Roe (28.51) and Dygert (25.13) swimming their fastest legs of their swimming careers.

Kara Cunningham was ninth in the 200 freestyle (2:05.36). Also joining her in the race today from her team will be Ashley King (11th, 2:06.59), Tiffany Kline (18th, 2:12.24) and Allison White (21st, 2:14.54).

Hauger swam her best time in the 200 IM (2:28.60) and came in 12th. In the 50 freestyle, Dygert placed fifth (25.88) and Iwanicki was 10th (26.19).

In the 100 butterfly, Roe came in sixth (1:05.07) and Miller was 24th (1:09.9). Dygert finished sixth in the 100 freestyle (56.56), which was her best time in the event. Salemi came in eighth (57.61) and Kline made the cut in 17th place (59.34).

Three Maroons made the cut in the 500 freestyle as well, led by King in eighth (5:33.19). Cunningham placed just behind her in ninth (5:39.33) and Miller was 19th (5:56.99). Iwanicki (25.43) and Kline (26.58) swam their best times in the second and fourth leg of the fourth place 200 freestyle relay (1:44.84), which Dygert and King also swam.

Roe (1:03.92), Salemi (1:07.71) and Elliot (1:11.76) will swim in the 100 backstroke today after placing fifth, 12th and 18th respectively in the prelims round.

King (58.16) and Roe (56.10) had lifetime best times in the second and third leg of the 400 freestyle relay, which placed fourth. Cunningham and Salemi bookended the relay.

Last season, Iwanicki qualified for the state meet in the breaststroke in the finals meet, as well as the 200 medley relay team with Salemi, Candice Elliot and Sarah Blair. Blair, who graduated with Candice Elliot last spring, was the Section III, Class A champ in the 50 freestyle and broke a decade old school record with a time of 24.39 in the event.