By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Britney Muralt (Fy., Portland, OR/Tualatin HS) and Min Wei (Jr., Fushun, China/Cascade HS) finished first and second in the women's 100-yard breaststroke for Willamette University, as the Bearcats took on Linfield University in men's and women's swimming on Saturday, March 13. Linfield won the women's competition, 117-58, and prevailed in the men's events, 115-51.
Both of the Linfield teams improved to 2-0 on the season and to 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette's men moved to 1-1 on the season, 1-1 in the NWC, while the Bearcat women's team fell to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.
Muralt took first place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:11.73. Wei placed second in 1:14.35. Caitlin Evenson from Linfield was third at 1:17.32.
Willamette won five events in which Linfield competed exhibition. In the men's 500-yard freestyle, Linfield's swimmers were competing exhibition, but Will Compton (So., Portage, MI/Portage Northern HS) of WU still had the fastest time at 5:28.94. Likewise, Muralt won the women's 100-yard butterfly in a similar situation, with the fastest time at 1:03.64.
The Bearcats opened the men's events by placing a close second in the 200-yard medley relay. Linfield's team of Casey Wong, Colby Evenson, Daniel Olson, and Garrett Sutton won the race in 1:44.32. Willamette took second in 1:45.27, with Will Mathews (Fy., St. Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park HS), Keaton Adams (Jr., Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS), Compton, and Julius Wilhelmi (Fy., Roseville, Ca/Woodcreek HS) swimming for the Bearcats.
Wilhelmi took second place in the men's 50-yard freestyle and the men's 100-yard freestyle. Olson won the 50 for the Wildcats in 21.95 seconds, while Wilhelmi followed in 22.12 seconds. In the 100, Edan Donaldson placed first for Linfield in 48.21 seconds, and Wilhelmi was second in 50.42 seconds.
Wei placed second in the women's 50-yard freestyle at 27.90 seconds. Maggie Kelley of Linfield won the 50 with a time of 26.30 seconds. Muralt grabbed second place for WU in the women's 100-yard freestyle. Claudia Velie took first place in 58.08 seconds, and Muralt finished in 58.71 seconds.
The Bearcats will host Pacific University at the WU Natatorium on Saturday, March 20. Meet time is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PDT).
