AUSTIN — The Albert Lea girls’ swimming and diving team qualified for the state meet in five events on Friday at the Section 1A championships in Austin.

Lindsey Horejsi advanced individually in two events, along with Morgan Field and diver Karli Kriewall. The Tigers also advanced to relay teams to state which is held Thursday and Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

The Tigers got off to a fast start in the section meet after placing first in the 200-yard medley relay. Kemma Begland, Field, Galen Schulz and Horejsi advanced to state in the event after finishing in 1 minute and 51.82 seconds.

Two events later in the 200-yard individual medley, Horjesi placed first in 2:11.7, besting the Section 1A record of 2:13.31 set in 1998.

Kriewall is headed back to the state tournament after placing second in the 1-meter dive event with 317.75 points. Ninth-grader Bailey Dupay, of Northfield, ran away with the section diving title with 388 points.

The Tigers sent its second relay team to state by beating the state cut time. The 200-yard freestyle relay of Schulz, Field, Anna Andersen and Horejsi finished in fourth in 1:41.14, just under the cut time of 1:43.21.

Horejsi and Field both qualified for state after finishing first and second, respectively, in the 100-yard breastroke. Horejsi set a section record in 1:05.35, and Field finished in 1:08.71. The closest finisher to the Tigers’ 1-2 punch was more than 2 1/2 seconds behind.

Albert Lea’s team finished in third place in the 11-team section with 300 points. Northfield won the section title with 423 points and Mankato West came in second with 323.