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Shawnee Heights junior Luke Perkins' bid for a Class 5A-1A state swimming championship came up just short Saturday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Perkins placed second by a mere second in the 100-yard butterfly event, clocking a time of 52.95 seconds to finish as the runner-up to Bishop Seabury's Ian Blake, who claimed the state crown in 51.95.
Perkins' second-place finish in the 100 fly came after he had placed third in the event in 2021 as a sophomore.
Perkins earned four state medals Saturday after being a double medalist as a freshman and a sophomore.
The T-Bird star added a sixth-place finish in the 200 individual medley in 2:00.64 and also helped Shawnee Heights post a pair of top-six state relay finishes.
Perkins teamed with freshman Truman Brede, junior Guillaume Humblet and junior Tanner Zerger to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay in 1:42.08 and with Humblet, freshman Evan Hoobler and Zerger to record a sixth-place finish in the 200 free relay in 1:33.50.
Humblet added a sixth-place finish in the 5A-1A 100 breaststroke in 1:00.55.
• Seaman junior Colin O'Rourke earned an individual state medal for the second straight year, finishing seventh in the 100 butterfly Saturday (54.76) after finishing eighth in that event as a sophomore.
• Washburn Rural sophomore Brogan Meier was a 6A state medalist Saturday, placing eighth in the 500 freestyle in 5:01.77.
• Topeka High freshman Jaxson Cowdin advanced to the 6A diving finals, placing 15th with a score of 334.85.