Hamann, Elston, make it to final 12

Cary-Grove's Michael Hamann competes in the 200-yard individual medley preliminary Friday at the IHSA Boys Swimming and Diving Sate Meet at New Trier in Winnetka. (Allison Williams – For the Northwest Herald)

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WINNETKA – Michael Hamann’s post-race fist pump said it all.

The Cary-Grove swimmer’s return trip to the IHSA Swimming and Diving State Meet didn’t start how he envisioned after he finished 18th in the 200-yard individual medley.

But the sophomore redeemed himself in the 100-yard backstroke, his second and final event of Friday’s state preliminaries.

Hamann’s backstroke time of 52.59 seconds placed him 12th, qualifying for the consolation finals by .18 seconds. The top six in each event qualify for the championship finals; finishers seven through 12 compete in the consolation finals.

“Looking at the times before, I knew it was going to be extremely tight,” said Hamann, who raced in the event’s fifth and final heat. “I was just hoping for the best.

“When I saw my name on the board, I was just extremely happy. I got a big adrenaline rush.”

And his fellow swimmers certainly made Hamann earn it. Eight swimmers finished in less than 52 seconds, including two sub-51 second finishes. That bested the sectional mark of all but two state qualifiers.

“I was just happy to get back for tomorrow,” Hamann said. “That’s been the goal all year. It was just fun to come and swim fast and then make it into the 12.”

Hamann and Cary-Grove coach Jim Andriakos expected the times be lower from sectionals, and they were right. Two state records were set Friday; one by Hinsdale Central’s Danny Thomson, who finished the 500-yard freestyle in 4:21.43 and Matt Elliott from Peoria Richwoods, who finished the 100 breastroke in 53.87.

Andriakos added that while Hamann “seemed flat” and “not in his groove” during the 200-yard individual medley, which he finished in 1:55.84, the Trojans’ coach sees Hamann’s growth. The sophomore improved 11 places in the individual medley and 20 places in the backstroke from last year.

“It’s high-level swimming; the pressure’s there,” Andriakos said. “[Hamann] can handle it. My goal is just to make sure he gets through it with a smile on his face.”

Jacobs/Dundee-Crown Co-op’s Alex Elston joins Hamann in today’s consolation finals. Elston’s 51.21 in the 100-yard butterfly placed the junior 11th.

“I made it to the top-12, but I still want to drop [my time] to a low 50,” Elston, a junior, said. “I think I will as long as I get my first 50 [yards] faster.”

Despite racing in three events – 200 medley relay, 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly – Elston said fatigue wasn’t an issue. He also finished 47th (22.81 seconds) in the 50 freestyle. The medley relay team of Elston, Alex Reinbrecht, Ryne Quinlan and John Jost finished with a time of 1:40.62, placing 39th.

“We were all pumped,” Elston said. “I think next year we should make top 12.”

McHenry’s Kyle Braun competed in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. The senior placed 35th (21.99 seconds) and 45th (49.85 seconds) in the events.