Parkinson Finishes in Ninth Place in 1,650 Freestyle
GRESHAM, ORE. -- Freshman swimmer Erin Parkinson (Everson, WA/Ferndale HS) placed ninth in the women's 1,650-yard freestyle at the NWC Championships on Sunday, Feb. 27 on the final day of the three-day event. Despite competing in the distance event, Parkinson also placed 16th in the 200-yard breaststroke on Sunday.
The pair of solid results for Parkinson were added to her 13th place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke on Saturday.
Parkinson achieved a time of 18:47.32 in the 1,650-yard freestyle, as she improved her season best by more than 10.62 seconds. She secured her spot in the Top 10 by completing the race about two seconds in front of the next two finishers. In the consolation final of the 200-yard breaststroke, Parkinson registered a time of 2:37.85.
Willamette also received strong performances from several other swimmers on Sunday.
Kara Koetje (Jr., Arlington, WA/Stanwood HS) and Kayla Kosaki (So., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) both placed in the women's 200-yard butterfly. Koetje achieved 13th place with a time of 2:24.88 in the consolation final. Kosaki clocked in at 2:30.20 in the consolation final to earn 15th place.
Lauren Ballinger (So., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) finished 14th after reaching the consolation final in the 100-yard freestyle. Her time in the consolation final was 55.84 seconds.
Chris Whitehead (Fr., Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) took 13th place in the men's 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:26.64 in the consolation final. He improved by more than two seconds over his time of 2:28.91 in the prelims. Whitehead placed 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke on Saturday.
Whitworth won the women's team title and the men's team title, claiming both championships by sizable margins.
In the women's competition, Whitworth finished with 817 points. The University of Puget Sound was second with 679 points, while Lewis & Clark College placed third with 449 points. Whitman College took fourth place at 448, with Pacific University in fifth place at 242, Pacific Lutheran University in sixth place at 236, Linfield College in seventh at 174 and Willamette in eighth at 128.
Whitworth accumulated 923.5 points in the men's team standings. Puget Sound placed second with 586.5 points. Whitman was third with 529.5 points and Pacific Lutheran finished fourth with 314.5 points. Pacific University followed in fifth at 307 points, with Lewis & Clark in sixth at 216, Linfield in seventh at 201 and Willamette in eight with 7 points.
