Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge senior Hailey Vogel will be seeded sixth in the 100 breaststroke after reaching the ‘A’ finals on Friday in Marshalltown.

MARSHALLTOWN — It was a strong opening effort at the state swimming and diving championships for the Fort Dodge girls here on Friday.

The Dodgers qualified all four swimming events for the finals, which will take place on Saturday beginning at noon.

Seniors Hailey Vogel and Julia Eastman each secured a spot in the A finals of an event, while also advancing to the B finals in another.

Vogel was sixth-fastest in the 100 breaststroke prelims, improving her seed time by going 1:05.67. She just missed out on making the Top-8 in the 50 freestyle, finishing ninth in the prelims in 24.43.

The eighth-fastest 50 free prelim swim came in at 24.38, just keeping Vogel out.

Eastman, a Southeast Valley student who committed to the University of Northern Iowa earlier this month, had the sixth-best 100 backstroke swim prelims at 58.48. That was an improvement over her seed time of 58.56.

She also was 12th in the 100 butterfly at 59.67 and will compete in the B finals of that event.

“Three of the four swims the girls had (Friday) were best times of the season,” FDSH head coach Ashley Beaumont said. “Hailey broke her (school) record again in the 50 free, just missing the A final.

“It’s great to see all of our races make it back for finals, and I can’t wait to see the girls shine. I think everyone is super excited and really wants that podium.”

Delaney O’Connor competed in diving for the Dodgers, as the St. Edmond senior placed 32nd overall.

“It was tough, as Delaney had some nerves and the judges were very difficult with scoring,” Beaumont said. “But I love that she went out there and competed.

“Delaney has worked so hard and I’m very proud of her for making this far.”

Along with the four individual swims on Saturday, the Dodgers will have two relays in the pool. Eastman, Vogel, junior Gracie Harvey and Manson Northwest Webster sophomore Kylen Lubensky are competing in the 200 medley relay in the third heat.

Meanwhile, Vogel, Harvey, O’Connor and Eastman will represent FDSH in the first heat of the 400 freestyle relay.