MINNEAPOLIS — Despite different individuals from dozens of high schools competing in the same event, for one moment Thursday everyone inside of the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center paused to cheer for the same person.

Albert Lea senior Lindsey Horejsi broke the national high school record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 58.56 seconds in the girls’ Class A state swimming prelims Thursday in Minneapolis.

“I was shocked,” Horejsi said. “I was kind of nervous about how I was going to swim, because you always worry about ‘did I work hard enough?’ and ‘did I do everything I could have possibly done?’ and then it comes down to it.”

The previous record of 58.75 seconds was set in 2009 by Kasey Carlson of Las Lomas High School in California.

“You just can’t think about technicality stuff,” said Horejsi. “When it comes down to a big meet like this, you just have to kind of go with it and do what you do.”

Horejsi’s national record-setting 100 breaststroke result earned her an All-American time. It set the all-time state meet record and the Class A record for the event, as well.

For Tigers swimming coach Jon Schmitz, Horejsi’s record-setting was no surprise.

“She’s the fastest high school kid — ever — in that event. That was her goal all along. She’s worked her butt off for it. She’s sacrificed a lot,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of her.”

The Tigers will compete in a total of seven events in the state finals Friday, which start at noon at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The top eight times in each event during Thursday’s prelims automatically advance to the state finals. Albert Lea will have three relay teams and three individuals competing in Friday’s meet.

Albert Lea’s relay team of Bailey Sandon, Horejsi, Ahnika Jensen and Emily Taylor placed second in the 200 medley relay prelim with a time of 1:46.56. The time also earned the team All-American consideration. Anna Andersen, Jensen, Haley Simon and Taylor placed third in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:38.80. In the 400 freestyle relay, Jensen, Taylor, Simon and Horejsi placed third with 3:37.32.

Andersen, a senior, placed fourth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.99, and third in the 100 freestyle with 51.63 seconds.

Jensen, also a senior, placed sixth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.41 seconds.

In addition to the 100 breaststroke, Horejsi also placed first and earned another All-American time in the 50 freestyle with 22.84 seconds.

Following her eventful first day at the state swimming meet, Horejsi was poised and focused on Friday’s finals.

“I’m pretty relaxed. … I’m excited, obviously. I want to break the state record in the 50,” she said. “To re-break the national record (in the breaststroke) would be awesome, but I went a 58 and that was my main goal, so I’m happy.”