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

CORVALLIS, ORE. -- Cassie Tallman (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) set a Willamette University record in the women's 200-yard individual medley and Mark Yuvienco (Fr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) qualified for the championship final in the men's 500-yard freestyle during preliminary heats on Friday, Feb. 13, at the 2015 Northwest Conference Swimming Championships in the Corvallis Aquatic Center.

In addition, three Bearcats advanced to the consolation finals in their respective events. Alika Masei (So., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) qualified in the men's 200-yard individual medley, while Zander Le Bel (Sr., Dallas, TX/Richardson HS) reached the men's 50-yard freestyle final and Malia Santos (Jr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS) earned a spot in the women's 50-yard freestyle final.

The championship finals and consolation finals in the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and 50-yard freestyle will be held tonight, starting at 6 p.m. (PST). The top eight finishers in each event during the prelims will compete in the championship finals, while the ninth through 16th place finishers will compete in the consolation finals.

Friday's evening session also will include the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard medley relay.

Tallman set Willamette's school record in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:10.46 in the prelims. She registered the second-fastest time of the prelims, trailing only Jacqueline Beal from Whitworth University, who achieved a time of 2:10.18.

The previous Bearcat record in the women's 200 I.M. was 2:12.15 set by Becky Fox in 1997.

In the men's 500-yard freestyle, Yuvienco placed fourth in the prelims at 4:44.65. The top time of the prelims was earned by Brandon Smith from Whitworth at 4:43.36.

Shelby Merrill (So., Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) of Willamette missed the consolation final by 0.81 after finishing 18th in 4:56.15. Reuben White (Fr., Portland, OR/Westview HS) of Willamette was 19th in 4:56.36.

Masei was 13th in the men's 200-yard individual medley prelims at 2:00.18. Le Bel attained the 15th best time in the men's 50-yard freestyle prelims at 22.25 seconds, as he took nearly a second (0.92) off his seed time. Santos was 12th in the women's 50-yard freestyle prelims with a time of 24.98 seconds. She reduced her top time by 0.83.

The NWC Championships will continue at the Osborn Aquatic Center through Sunday, Feb. 15. On Saturday, prelims will begin at 10 a.m. (PST), with finals at 6 p.m. On Sunday, prelims will start at 9 a.m. and finals will begin at 5 p.m.