Whit Swim Teams in Spokane; Online Live Video Available

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Whitman College swim teams wrap up their Northwest Conference regular season on Saturday with a double-dual meet against Puget Sound and Whitworth in Spokane.

The meet, which pits the top three NWC swim programs against one another, starts at 1 p.m. at the Whitworth Aquatic Center. 

Fans can follow the racing online via a live video stream.

The video broadcast is available in Windows Media Format. You can download a free copy of the Microsoft® Windows Media Player from Microsoft website.

The women's and men's teams for both Whitman and Whitworth enter Saturday's meet with 4-0 NWC dual meet records. The Puget Sound teams are both 4-1.

Sollom-Brotherton

Mering

Saturday's meet compensates, in part, for dual meets that were canceled last weekend when Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran decided against traveling to eastern Washington because of dangerous weather-related road conditions.

Pacific Lutheran elected not to participate in this Saturday's meet, choosing instead to cancel its annual competitions against Whitman and Whitworth.

Saturday's meet begins at 1 p.m. and includes 14 events, including both the 100-yard and 200-yard distances in each stroke, every championship distance in the freestyle, the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard medley and freestyle relays.

The men's meet features swimmers who have the NWC's top times so far this season in 11 of the 12 individual events.

Whitman first-year phenom Karl Mering leads the conference in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles and the 100-yard butterfly. Junior Galen Sollom-Brotherton gives the Missionaries the top time in the 1,650-yard freestyle. 

Chapman

Jenne

Puget Sound's Teale Kitson leads the conference in three individual events: 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes and the 500-yard freestyle. Logger Aleksander Jeremikj has the NWC's top mark in the 200-yard butterfly.

Whitworth's Rory Buck has the NWC's best marks in the breaststroke events, while Wesley Walton leads the 200-yard individual medley and Austin Vierra the 200-yard freestyle. 

The women's meet features the NWC's season-to-date best times in 10 of the 12 individual events.

Two Whitman juniors, Helen Jenne in the 100-yard freestyle and Katie Chapman in the 200-yard butterfly, top the conference in those two events.

For Puget Sound, Kenzie Kitson has the league's best time in the 100-yard backstroke, as do teammates Melissa Norris in the 200-yard individual medley and Tracy Wormwood in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststrokes. 

Whitworth's Kate Duvall leads the NWC in the 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard backstroke, while Jennifer Benson tops the 50-yard freestyle list and Nicole Lecoq leads the 200-yard freestyle.

After Saturday's meet, all teams turn their attention toward preparations for the NWC Championships, set for Feb. 10-12 at the King Co. Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

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CONTACT: Dave Holden,
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
holden@whitman.edu; (509) 527-5902