Lin Wins 200 Backstroke, Bearcats are 2nd in Three Events at NW Invitational
By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University swimmer Kiley Lin (Fr., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS) won the women's 200-yard backstroke, and the Bearcats took second place in two individual events and one relay, on the first day of the Northwest Invitational at the WU Natatorium on Friday, Nov. 20. The meet will continue on Saturday, Nov. 21, with action starting at 10 a.m. (PST).
Lin won the 200 backstroke in 2:09.02 as she held off Sam Anders from the University of Puget Sound. Anders finished 1.62 seconds later to claim second place at 2:10.64. Michaela Zuber (Sr., Sacramento, CA/Sheldon HS) of Willamette was ninth in 2:17.24 and Katie Lively (Fr., Springfield, OR/Thurston HS) of the Bearcats took 11th place in 2:19.25.
In addition to winning the 200 backstroke, Lin also placed sixth in the 100-yard butterfly. Lin's time was 1:01.46. Melissa Dean of Pacific Lutheran University won the 100 fly in 59.42 seconds.
Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) of Willamette achieved second place in the women's 200-yard breaststroke in 2:28.83. She trailed only Kylie Webb from Pacific Lutheran, who won the event in 2:27.70.
Ashlyn Witherwax (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of WU placed seventh in the 200 breast in 2:33.95 and Gabby Dewson (Fr., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) finished 11th for the Bearcats in 2:35.04.
Tallman also recorded third place in the women's 200-yard individual medley. She completed the race in 2:15.64. Frist place went to Webb of PLU, who registered a time of 2:13.31. McKayla Stevens from College of Idaho was second in 2:15.64.
For the Willamette men's team, Mark Yuvienco (So., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) took second place in the 100-yard butterfly. He was edged out for first place by Bryson Baligad of PLU, who was timed at 52.97 seconds. Yuvienco was just 0.06 back with a time of 53.03 seconds. Dan Aki of WU was ninth in the event at 54.60.
The Bearcats also attained second place in the women's 400-yard medley relay. Willamette's team of Lin, Witherwax, Tallman and Jamie Johnson (So., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) combined for a time of 4:10.12. Pacific Lutheran won the event in 4:04.80. College of Idaho was third in 4:12.05.
Baker Armstrong (Fr., Fresno, CA/Bullard HS) of Willamette placed fourth in the men's 500-yard freestyle at 4:55.07. Nick Mitchell from Puget Sound earned first place in 4:42.27.
Alika Masei (Jr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) provided the Bearcats with fifth place in the men's 200-yard backstroke. His time was 2:00.89. First and second were decided in a very close finish, as Jason Smith of Whitworth University took first in 1:55.00, while teammate Patrick Wilber was second in 1:55.04.
Masei added fifth place in the men's 200-yard individual medley. He was timed at 2:03.08.
Other Top Willamette Results
The WU women's 200-yard freestyle relay team took fourth place in 1:42.75. Swimming for the Bearcats were Tallman, Johnson, Zuber and Rachel Harvill (Fr., Alamo, CA/Monte Vista HS).
Mykah Fujiwara (Fr., Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) was ninth in the men's 200-yard breaststroke. He earned a time of 2:18.48.
In the women's 500-yard freestyle, Anna Burdine (Fr., Seattle, Wash./Mount Rainer HS) placed ninth in 5:36.94 and Kate Harvey (So., Atlantic Beach, FL/Duncan Fletcher HS) was 10th in 5:38.51.
Harvill claimed 10th place in the women's 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.27 seconds.
The WU men's team took fourth place in the 400-yard medley relay in 3:39.97, missing second place by just 0.13. Swimming for the Bearcats were Masei, Jason Bayang (Jr., Wahiawa, HI/Hoala School), Yuvienco and Armstrong.
Team Standings on Day 1
Pacific Lutheran led the women's team standings with 259 points. Whitworth topped the men's team standings with 188 points, while Puget Sound was second at 169. Willamette was fourth in the women's standings at 123 and was fifth in the men's standings at 88.