By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University swimmer Cassie Tallman (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) earned fourth place in the women's pentathlon during the Northwest Conference Sprint Invitational, hosted by Linfield College on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Bearcats placed fourth in both the men's and women's team standings.

The NWC Sprint Invitational featured five individual events. Swimmers could participate in the 100-yard individual medley as well as 50-yard races in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Competitors who swam in all five races were eligible to place in the pentathlon. All of the races featured more than 90 swimmers.

Shanell Sullenberger from Pacific Lutheran University won the women's pentathlon title with a combined time of 2:57.05. Kiana Sullenberger, also from PLU, took second place at 2:58.17. Michelle Hogan of PLU was third at 2:58.73 and Tallman was fourth at 2:59.22. Tara Stahlecker of Whitman College placed fifth at 3:01.57.

Ashlyn Witherwax (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of Willamette placed 33rd in the women's pentathlon.

Tallman's best result was in the 50-yard backstroke, as she took second place with a time of 29.47 seconds. Stahlecker won the 50 back for Whitman in 29.29 seconds. Willamette's Michaela Zuber (Jr., Sacramento, CA/Sheldon HS) placed 13th in the 50 back in 30.58.

The Bearcats also received fourth place finishes from Tallman in the 50-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard individual medley.

In the breaststroke, she was timed at 32.29 seconds, while Witherwax took sixth at 33.31. Summer Elias (Sr., Elko, NV/Elko HS) of WU was 23rd in 35.27. In the 100-yard individual medley, Tallman earned a time of 1:03.02.

Tallman placed ninth in the 50-yard butterfly, as she was clocked at 28.07 seconds. She tied for 14th place in the 50-yard freestyle in 26.37 seconds.

In the men's pentathlon, Wesley Walton from Whitworth University was the champion with an overall time of 2:35.24. Kyle Wicks of Whitworth was second at 2:35.56. Karl Mering from Whitman followed in third place at 2:36.48 and Sean Terada of Whitman was fourth at 2:37.84. Brian Ruggles of PLU took fifth with a time of 2:38.09.

Willamette's top men's finisher in the pentathlon was Alika Masei (So., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) in 10th place at 2:39.58. Mark Yuvienco (Fr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) of WU placed 15th in 2:41.56 and teammate Jason Bayang (So., Waihawa, HI/Hoala School) was 22nd at 2:43.40.

The Bearcats placed three swimmers in the top 10 of the men's 50-yard breaststroke. Masaei led Willamette in seventh place at 28.57, while Bayang was eighth at 28.85 and Yuvienco was 10th at 28.97.

Masei placed 10th in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 26.37 seconds. Bayang took 14th place in 26.93 and Yuvienco was 23rd with a time of 27.54.

In the 100-yard individual medley, Masei registered 12th place and Yuvienco placed 16th. Masei's time was 56.06 seconds, while Yuvienco finished in 56.71 seconds.

Bayang achieved a tied for 14th place in the 50-yard butterfly in 25.00 seconds. Masei took 19th in 25.21, Yuvienco was 20th at 25:23 and Andrew Lum (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) tied for 25th at 25.42.

Yuvienco was 20th in the 50-yard freestyle. His time in the event was 23.11 seconds.

The women's team title went to Pacific Lutheran with 345 points. Whitworth was second at 182, with Whitman in third at 146 and Willamette in fourth at 80.5. Pacific University was fifth with 63.5 points and Linfield College took sixth with 48 points.

Whitman won the me's team title with 272 points, edging out Whitworth, which finished second with 265 points. Pacific Lutheran was third at 202.5, Willamette was fourth at 60.5, Linfield placed fifth at 47 and Pacific was sixth with 18.

Willamette's swimming teams will take on Whitworth University on Friday, Nov. 7 in Spokane, Wash. The meet is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. (PST).