Junior Todd Smolinski of Lake Central shattered the state meet record in the 100 backstroke to highlight the preliminary round of the 61^st Annual Indiana High School Athletic Association Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals Friday night at the I.U. Natatorium in Indianapolis.  

Smolinski, who posted the state's top sectional time in the 100 backstroke last week at 51.05, turnedin a 49.61. That broke the state meet record of 49.77 set by Dan Schultz of Bedford North Lawrence in 1995. Schultz also was the state backstroke champion in 1994. Right behind Smolinski was two-time defending state champion Jon Karr of Columbus North in 49.90. 

The top eight finishers from the preliminary round advanced to compete in thechampionship race on Saturday. The next eight finishers qualified to compete in the consolation round. No team points are earned in the preliminary round.  

Besides Smolinski's record, the evening's top performances were shared by junior Jeff Lee of Munster, senior Justin Hoggatt of Homestead and senior Jason Mallory of Penn as each posted the night's best time in two events.  

Lee produced the best qualifying times in the 100 freestyle (44.84) and 200 freestyle (1:38.96). Hoggatt, the two-time defending state champion in the 50 freestyle, set the pace in that event with a 20.65 and came right back with the best clocking in the 100 butterfly at 49.70. Mallory, who had the state's best sectional time in the 500 freestyle last week, repeated in the preliminaries with a 4:29.67 that was just off the state meet record of 4:29.29 set by John Retrum of Anderson in 1997. He earlier had taken top honors in the 200 individual medley in 1:48.88. 

Top-ranked Columbus North clocked the best time in the 200 medley relay at 1:34.71 to open the session and finished the evening with the best time in the 400 freestyle relay at 3:09.12. Munster had the best time in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:25.68. 

Saturday's action begins at 9 a.m. with preliminary competition in diving. Consolation and finals races begin at 1 p.m. The diving finals will be part of the finals round, with action at approximately 2 p.m.

200 Medley Relay -- Columbus North, 1:34.71. 

200 Freestyle -- Jeff Lee, Munster, 1:38.96. 

200 Individual Medley -- Jason Mallory, Penn, 1:48.88. 

50 Freestyle -- Justin Hoggatt, Homestead, 20.65. 

100 Butterfly -- Justin Hoggatt, Homestead, 49.70. 

100 Freestyle -- Jeff Lee, Munster, 44.84. 

500 Freestyle -- Jason Mallory, Penn, 4:29.67. 

200 Freestyle Relay -- Munster, 1:25.68. 

100 Backstroke -- Todd Smolinski, Lake Central, 49.61, meet record. 

100 Breaststroke -- Zach Landrum, West Lafayette, 58.21. 

400 Freestyle Relay -- Columbus North, 3:09.12.