Ryan Brennecke / The BulletinSummit's Mackenzie Halligan swims on her way to winning the 200-yard individual medley during the City of Bend High School Invitational at Juniper Swim & Fitness Center in January.

The reigning team champions swam the first strokes toward defense of their titles Friday in the preliminary heats of the Intermountain Conference district swim meet.

Summit’s girls and Bend High’s boys are aiming to repeat as IMC team champs — the Storm seeking a 14th consecutive district girls crown and the Lava Bears looking to make it two in a row on the boys side — when the championship finals take place this afternoon at Bend’s Juniper Swim & Fitness Center.

Mountain View, Redmond and Ridgeview round out the field for the five-team meet, which resumes today at 12:15 p.m.

Of the eight events contested in Friday’s prelims, the Summit girls took first place in four, including two by senior Mackenzie Halligan (200- and 500-yard freestyles) and one each by juniors Alison Epple (200 individual medley) and Merritt Allen (100 butterfly).

Bend swimmers were first in three girls prelims: junior Chyna Fish in the 100 freestyle, sophomore Elliyana Ferrin in the 100 backstroke, and freshman Emily Brockman in the 100 breaststroke. Mountain View sophomore Hannah Peterson was fastest in the 50 freestyle.

The Redmond girls were led by freshman Loryn Trail, who was third in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke.

Top placers for Ridgeview were sixth-place efforts by senior Casee Lantz (100 breaststroke) and freshman Katie Oberst (100 freestyle).

In boys preliminary races, two Bend High swimmers and two from Summit each placed first in two events.

For the Lava Bears, prelim winners were juniors Ben Brockman (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Paul Rogers (200 IM, 500 free). For the Storm, seniors Tommy Brewer (50 free, 100 breast) and John Hartmeier (100 free, 100 back) posted the fastest times in their respective events. Brewer’s times — 21.09 seconds in the 50 free; 58.08 in the breaststroke — were both new district records.

The highest preliminary finish by a Mountain View boy was third place in the 500 freestyle by sophomore Jonathan Davami. For the Redmond boys, the top placer was sophomore Nicky Tsai, third in the 100 backstroke. For Ridgeview, sophomore Tate Lighthall was third in the 100 free.

Individual and team relay winners in today’s finals automatically qualify for the Class 5A state championships next Friday and Saturday at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham. Remaining open lanes at the state meet will be filled by swimmers with the next-fastest times from district meets throughout the state.