MHS boys swimming: Owls fifth at Raytown meet

RAYTOWN -- Even missing one of its all-state relay members, the Marshall boys' swim team placed fifth out of 16 schools Friday in the Eubank Invitational at Raytown.

Junior Brock Musick was out of action, but junior Quaid Hayob filled in on the relays -- joining sophomore Tyler Nichols and seniors Khris Ward and Eden Elfrink -- to finish third in the 200-yard medley (1:50.88) and fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:38.96).

Nichols got the only win for the Owls, in the 200 individual medley (2:03.93), but posted a personal best in the 100 freestyle (49.83 seconds) -- placing second by a mere tenth of a second to Park Hill South junior Kyle Gourley while posting a state-qualifying time in his seventh event.

Ward was second in the 100 butterfly (56.56) and third in the 100 backstroke (59.65) and Elfrink came in 11th out of 47 entries in the 50 free (24.82) and 15th in the 200 free (2:06.16).

Marshall tallied 102 points, with Park Hill South winning seven races to run away with the title at 340 points - 181 points ahead of runner up St. Joseph-Central.

Besides Nichols, four other Owls had personal-best times: junior Mike Marburger in the 50 free (29.99) and 100 free (1:06.74), Hayob in the 200 IM (2:41.61) and junior Luke Milliron in the 100 back (1:19.36).

Two days earlier, Marshall beat three of four opponents in scoring at the Harrisonville Quad Duals. The Owls out-pointed the host Wildcats (94-34), Lincoln Prep (100-10) of Kansas City and Platte County (79-76). However, Smith-Cotton beat the Birds, 97-67, for the title.

The Marshall combo of Elfrink, Ward, Musick and Nichols won both the 200 medley (1:48.43) and free (1:34.51). Nichols qualified for state in the 100 back (58.53), winning that event and placing second in the 50 free (23.07) -- with Elfrink coming in third (24.65).

Musick won the 100 fly (58.10) with a personal record, but missed the state standard by .21 seconds. He was also first in the 500 free (5:32.73), again with a personal best.

Ward took the blue ribbon in the 100 breast (1:09.19) and was second in the 100 free (52.06), Elfrink was fifth in the 100 free (56.32) and Hayob placed fifth in both the 100 fly (1:21.20) and 100 breast (1:20.77).

Junior Kirton Joshi had his top time in the 500 free (8:18.76).

The Owls will host the Marshall Invitational, the lone home meet of the season, Friday at the Salt Fork YMCA.