FEDERAL WAY -- Lisa Bratton turned on the jets in a big way Friday.

Now, the Richland sophomore sits in prime position for hardware today at the state swimming and diving championships in Federal Way.

Bratton entered the Class 4A 200-yard individual medley preliminaries as the No. 1 seed and didn't budge from the top spot. She slashed to an All-America consideration time of 2 minutes, 5.54 seconds, 35 hundredths of a second faster than her qualifying time.

Bratton had an even bigger drop in time in the 500 freestyle. She pulled away from Bothell senior Mariah Williamson in the next lane over and won the second heat in 5:05.30 -- six seconds under her qualifying time. Bratton also moved up from fifth to third in the overall standings entering today's final.

"I saw (Williamson) the whole time," Bratton said. "I knew going into the race, she was seeded second, so I knew if I wanted to make finals, I needed to go all out with her."

Bratton finally took charge of the race with about 75 yards to go.

"She started to fall back, and I got a little bit stronger," Bratton said. "I thought, 'This is my time to take her if I'm going to.' "

Bratton was also part of a strong day for the Richland and Hanford relays, coached by Kathy Piper. The Bombers' 200 medley team of Bratton, Mackenzie Ruby, Sarah Olsen and Vanessa Whattam rose to sixth place with a heat time of 1 minute, 52.24 seconds.

The Hanford crew of Melissa Merrill, Stephanie Tixier, Lisa Tixier and Linnea Peacock dominated on the 3A side, claiming the top spot in the 200 free relay and second place in the 400 free behind Mercer Island. Peacock and Lisa Tixier joined with Taylor Fievez and Shaylee Kieffer to finish sixth in the 200 medley relay.

"They have high lofty goals, and we're just here to help them reach them right now," Piper said. "They all worked really hard all season. That was their payoff."

Individually, Merrill placed sixth in the 200 IM and third in the 100 free, while Tixier took third in the 100 butterfly and second in the 50 free.

For Merrill, who qualified for state in every swimming event except the 500 free, her prelims couldn't have gone much better. Both of her times -- a 2:11.35 in the 200 IM and a 52.98 in the 100 free -- were season bests.

"I think I picked the right (events) to swim, especially the 100 free," Merrill said. "With the 200 IM, I was going back and forth between that and the 50 free, but I'm glad I picked it because it is more of a challenge. It makes me happier when I swim faster."

Another team that will have a major presence in today's finals is Southridge. The Suns had eight swimmers in the water Friday, and all of them will compete this morning.

Alisha Sanchez gave her oft-dislocated shoulder quite the workout, but it handled the workload just fine. The Southridge senior swam a 25.21 in her 50 free heat, finishing second to Hanford's Stephanie Tixier (24.81) and third overall. Meadowdale's Anna Keane could be a formidable challenge in the final, winning the third heat in 24.00.

"I don't want to go any lower," Sanchez said. "I want to at least stay third. Getting in the top eight was my main goal, so I guess I can't do any worse than that."

Sanchez also will compete in the A finals of the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay. After Friday's races, she said her shoulder, which has been dislocated three times this year, didn't hurt too much. Southridge coach Jason Hart will watch it closely today.

"I'm nervous every time she swims," Hart said. "We have one more day to get through, and then we'll see what she does, whether she has surgery or does rehab, but her stroke looks good.

"The 50 she led off with in the 200 free (25.14) was faster than in the 50 free. I'm very excited to watch her swim (today)."

In tonight's 2A finals, Othello senior Natilee Ruiz will go for her fifth and sixth state titles.

She breezed in her 200 IM heat and remained in the top overall spot with a 2:08.25. In the 100 free, her heat-winning time of 52.81 put her in second place behind defending champion Katie Kaestner of Anacortes (52.37).

Meanwhile, Prosser junior Hailey Rankin is second in the 100 fly (59.96) and third in the 500 free (5:25.10).

Other Mid-Columbia competitors in the top eight include: Richland's Nicole Weinman (eighth, 4A 500 free); Moses Lake's Sammy Hendrickson (fourth, 4A 1-meter diving) and Courtney Schwiesow (fourth, 4A 100 breaststroke); Walla Walla's Emma Timm-Ballard (third, 4A 100 backstroke); and Kennewick's Hailey Murphy (seventh, 3A 100 fly).