For The Tribune

Rachel Sabotin cut things a little bit close during Friday night’s state girls swimming preliminaries, but no matter.

The Trinity Lutheran junior had one objective — to finish in the top eight in both of her events for a spot in the championship finals — and she accomplished it.

“The goal tonight was just to make top eight,” Sabotin said. “I was pretty close in both events, but I still made it back.”

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Sabotin started her evening in the 200-yard individual medley, where she finished third in her heat and eighth overall. Her time of 2:03.81 gave her a slim edge over the ninth-place finisher, Maggie Stock of Homestead (2:03.98).

Then, in the 500 freestyle, Sabotin turned in a time of 5:00.37, good for seventh place. She finished less than a second ahead of Columbus North’s Olivia Morlok (5:00.83) and Fishers senior Morgan Booth (5:00.91).

Having assured herself of no worse than eighth in either event, Sabotin will look to climb her way higher up the awards podium this afternoon. She placed fourth in the 500 free a year ago and seems confident that she’s got another gear.

“I’m so ready to see what I can do tomorrow and race,” she said.