State-bound Truckee swimmer Arek O’Connell continues to post increasingly impressive results in the 50 and 100 free.

As a senior entering his final high school hurrah — the Nevada State Swimming Championship on Saturday — his recent surge couldn’t be more timely.

This past Saturday O’Connell won both events in the Northern 4A Regional Swimming Trials in Carson City. He set a personal-best time of 21.68 in the 50 free to edge Fritz Roepke of Reno High, who finished in 21.92. The previous weekend at the Sierra League Championship, O’Connell swam a then-best 22:02.

O’Connell also won the 100 free at regionals with a time of 47.94, beating Matt Grunert (49.01) of Carson.

According to the 2006 Nevada State High School Record Book, O’Connell’s 21.68 in the 50 free is the sixth-best time ever recorded in the state. Scott Evans of Bishop Manogue holds the record at 20.81, set in 1989.

Donnie Nelson of the NIAA could not be reached Thursday to confirm that the record held up through the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Same goes for the 100 free record, which, according to the 2006 record book, stands at 45.63, set by Jordan Smith of Reno in 2006. O’Connell’s winning time of 47.94 at regionals places him 10th on that list.

Last year at State, O’Connell placed second to Roepke in the 50 with a time of 22.04. Roepke posted a winning time of 21.76.

O’Connell narrowly missed the cut in the 100 free at the 2007 regionals with a time of 50.69.

Also representing the Wolverines at State will be freshman Cara Silvas, who finished second in the 500 free at the regional meet.

The Nevada State Swimming Championship will be held at the UNLV pool on Saturday. The top three swimmers in each finals event qualified for state.