Watauga High sophomore Darby Middlebrook and the women's 400 free-style relay team were eliminated in the preliminary round of the Class 4A State Swimming Finals at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, NC.

Middlebrook, who was also a member of the 400 free-style relay team and will compete in three events (the 1600-and 3200-meter runs and the 4x800 relay) at the state indoor meet Saturday in Fayetteville, finished 19th in the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter breast stroke. She completed the course in 1:11.16. She missed reaching the top 16 (the consoliation round) by two seconds. Caroline Weber of Providence finished 16th in 1:09.51.
The women's 400 free-style relay team finished 21st in the preliminary round. The team, which consisted of Doria Kosmala, Ingrid Forsyth, Haliey Middlebrook and Darby Middlebrook, completed the course in 3:58.74. Hopewell finished 16th and reached the consolation round in 3:50.90.

Middlebrook and the 400 free-style relay team were Watauga's first state qualifiers in two years. The last time WHS had a state qualifier in swimming before this season was in 2008.
Hailey Middlebrook will join here sister, Darby, at the state indoor track meet Saturday. She will compete in the 4x800 relay. The state indoor meet will be an outdoor event at Reid Ross Classical School in Fayetteville. Both the running and field events begin at 10 am.
The WHS women will have ten qualifiers in six events; the men will have four qualifiers in four events.