SWIMMING AND TRACK: League prelims and finals this week

Above: Ryan Chiu of Keppel High School winning last year's Division IV swimming title in the 200-yard freestyle

After back-to-back second place finishes, is the Keppel High school boys swimming team ready to take home a Division IV team title?
And is the La Canada boys swimming team ready to defend its Division II title?
Those questions will be answered with league prelims and finals this week followed by next week’s divisional prelims and finals at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, where the next champions will be crowned.
For two years, the Keppel boys swim team has finished a distant second to power Oaks Christian, but with Oaks Christian moving to Division III, it leaves the door wide open for the school’s first team championship.
The Aztecs return junior sensation Ryan Chiu, the defending Div. IV champion in the 100-and 200-freestyle along with 100-breastroke champion Chris Luu.
“With Oaks Christian and Cerritos out of the division, I think it makes us the favorites,” said Keppel swimming coach Ish Perez. “For us, it’s a huge deal. At Keppel there are so many sports where we fall short that we would love to be able to win a championship and put swimming on the map. We’ve got a great team to make a run at it, so obviously we’re excited.”
The Aztecs girls also hope to improve on their fourth place finish in Div. IV last year, and have a good shot with speedster Katherine Tse leading the way. Tse is looking for divisional crowns in the 50-and-100 freestyle.
The Almont League prelims and finals begin Wednesday and finish on Friday at East Los Angeles College beginning at 2:30 p.m..
The Pacific League swim prelims start on Tuesday at Burbank High School, with the finals set for Thursday at 3 p.m.
Rio Hondo League swimming finals start Wednesday at Pasadena City College, and conlude on Friday at 3 p.m.
The Prep League swim finals were held on Saturday at Claremont McKenna College. Pasadena Poly won the boys title, edging Chadwick 306 to 263.

Above: Muir's Kiani Profit wins last year's Division III 300-meter low hurdles at Cerritos College. Will she win it again?

Track League Finals Schedule
Almont League (Alhambra, Keppel, San Gabriel)
Prelims @ Bell Gardens HS, May 1st 2:00 p.m.
Finals @ Bell Gardens HS, May 4th 2:00 p.m.

Del Rey League (Bosco Tech, La Salle)
Prelims @ Serra HS, April 28 1:00 p.m.
Finals @ Serra Hs, May 3rd 5:00 p.m.

Mission League (St. Francis)
Prelims @ S.O. Notre Dame, April 30th 2:00 p.m.
Finals @ S.O. Notre Dame, May 3rd 2:00 p.m.

Mission Valley League (Arroyo, Gabrielino, Rosemead)
Prelims @ South El Monte HS, May 1st, TBA
Finals @ Gabrielino HS, May 4th, TBA

Pacific League (Arcadia, Muir, Pasadena)
Prelims @ Arcadia HS, May 1st 3:30 p.m.
Finals @ Arcadia HS, May 4th, 4:30 p.m.

Prep League (Flintridge Prep, Mayfield, Poly,
Westridge)
Prelims @ Webb, April 28th 11:00 a.m.
Finals @ Claremont McKenna, May 3rd, 5:00 p.m.

Rio Hondo Leauge (Blair, La Canada, Monrovia, San
Marino, South Pasadena, Temple City)Prelims @ San Marino HS, May 1st, 3:00 p.m.
Finals @ San Marino HS, May 4th, 5:30 p.m.