Whitworth pools its wins to take commanding lead

Whitworth’s men extended their lead to 214 points at the Northwest Conference Swimming Championships at the Whitworth College Aquatic Center.

By taking five of seven events Saturday, the Pirates have opened a 709-495 lead over Linfield with today’s competition remaining.

Cory Bergman won the men’s 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 43.06 seconds and Loren Killgore took the men’s 400 individual medley in 4:06.64. Those were the second race wins of the championships for both Pirates swimmers.

Whitworth freshman Bryan Clarke won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.73 for the third individual winner of the day.

Whitworth’s men also won two relays, beating UPS by one second in the 200 medley and taking a commanding 13-second win over Linfield in the 800 freestyle.

On the women’s side, Whitworth remains in second behind perennial first-place finisher Puget Sound, 689-569.

UPS has won every NWC women’s swimming title since 1997.

Whitworth earned wins in the 200 medley relay, narrowly over UPS, and from Serena Fadel in the 400 individual medley.

Samantha Kephart won the 100 butterfly for Whitworth, and the Pirates took the 800 freestyle relay.