Lawrence High senior John Armstrong leads the city’s entries into this weekend’s state swimming and diving meet in Manhattan.

Armstrong, one of nine LHS qualifiers, will swim the 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay.

Swimming preliminaries begin at 1 p.m. today. Diving prelims are scheduled for 7 tonight.

Diving semifinals are 10 a.m. Saturday. Swimming and diving finals are 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

“I think John has a chance to place in at least the top three in his events at state,” first-year LHS coach Alicia Jackson said. “A swimmer of his caliber could have qualified in any event for state.”

Armstrong was a Sunflower League champion in the 100 fly (55.03) and 100 free (50.47). He also anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay team of Anthony Portela, Jon Legler and Elliot Lauxman at league. Those same four will swim the relay at state.

“Everyone has been working to advance and have been training hard in anticipation of this all season,” Jackson said.

Legler was a league runner-up in the 200 freestyle and will swim that event at state.

LHS could score big in diving with sophomore John Gatti and freshman Nick Leet contending. Gatti, third at state last year, and Leet placed 1-2 at league. Gatti had 441.6 points and Leet had 422.6 points.

“I could see both of them placing in the top five,” Jackson said. “They dove really well at league and I think that’s a sign of good things to come.”

Free State is led by sophomore Alex Brunfeldt, league champ in the 500 free (4:56.75).

The Firebirds qualified five swimmers for state.

“The guys are really working hard and have some high goals,” FSHS first-year coach Annette McDonald said.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Brunfeldt, Chris Wolff, Chris Sellon and Brent Crouse are chasing a school record, which is 3:33.12.

“These guys have really been motivated and high spirited,” McDonald said.

The top eight placers in each event receive medals. The top 16 score points for their team.