TACOMA, Wash. – Linfield's women prevailed in nine of 14 relay events, including two co-ed races, part of a dominating effort at the Northwest Conference Relays held at the University of Puget Sound pool on opening weekend of the 2022-23 swimming season.
 
"We definitely showed that our work so far this year is paying off," Wildcats coach Kyle Kimball said afterward. "It was definitely nice to get some racing in this weekend to prepare for dual meets coming.
 
Though the meet was non-scoring, the Wildcats came away feeling happy about their early season performances.
 
"I'm very happy with how much our team is enjoying the process and look forward to their hard work continuing to pay dividends this season," said Kimball. "Our teams are confident and eager to race right now."
 
Edan Donaldson was a bright spot for the Wildcat men and Kate Walkup raced particularly well for the Linfield women.
 
In the day's opening event, Donaldson teamed with newcomer Sarah Arpag, junior Whitney Averill and fifth-year senior Garrett Sutton for a first-place result in the mixed 200-yard medley relay. The foursome's time of 1:44.71 edged out Puget Sound's runner-up time of 1:45.23.
 
The Wildcats also closed the meet out with a victory in the mixed 200 freestyle relay. Sutton, Olson, Kelley and Bobo-Shisler took top honors in 1:35.64.
 
WOMEN
In women's races, Arpag, Avery Campbell, Hannah Crocker and Walkup combined for a winning time in the 200 backstroke relay.
 
The 500 freestyle relay, comprised of Maggie Kelley, Lauren Bobo-Shisler, Claudia Velie and Walkup took top honors with a time of 5:00.93.
 
Kelley, Campbell, Kirsti Keppo and Walkup edged Pacific Lutheran's 200 butterfly relay quartet, 1:54.13 to 1:54.90.
 
Averill, Arpag, Campbell and Kalea Mullins easily won the 400 medley relay in 4:15.34.
 
MEN
Siutton and Donaldson team with Cameron Wheeler and Ben Simpson to win the 500 freestyle relay in 4:16.76, comfortably ahead of runner-up Whitworth's time of 4:25.96.
 
The Wildcats' 200 butterfly relay, made up of Simpson, Donaldson, Rocco Velie and Daniel Olson produced a winning result with a time of 1:36.11.
 
The 'Cats also secured first place in the 1,500 freestyle relay. The three-member relay of Gavin Smith, Jack Gallo and Simpson won by nearly 23 seconds in 15:10.51.
 
NEXT
Linfield dives head first in to the NWC dual meet season on Saturday when the 'Cats travel to Salem to take on the Willamette Bearcats at 6 p.m. The following day, Linfield meets Lewis & Clark in Portland for a 1 p.m. meet.