Perry junior Aleah Karolus qualified for Friday’s finals in both the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events after swimming the 9th fastest time in the 50 and 12th fastest time in the 100 Thursday in the opening round of the Iowa High School Girls State Swimming Championships in Iowa City.  Karolus clocked in with a time of 24.25 in the 50, placing her in the middle of the pack following the opening round.  The fastest time was recorded by Charlee DeJong from West Des Moines Valley with a 23.36.  She later swam a 54.23 in the 100 yard placing 12th in the preliminary round.  She advances to today’s finals.  Sophomore Ellie Hughes came up short in her bid for the finals in the 100 breaststroke after clocking a time of 1:12.15.

The swimming championships will wrap up later today.