SALEM, Ore. – In their Northwest Conference dual meet debut, the Linfield Wildcats finished on top of both sides of the ledger, topping the Willamette Bearcats at the WU pool.
 
The Linfield men defeated their Willamette courterparts by a 128-60 count. The Wildcat women cruised to a 120-68 triumph. Both squads are now 1-0.
 
Linfield competed as exhibition entries in the opening and ending relay events, allowing WU to secure wins in the men's and women's 400-yard medley relays and the men's and women's 400 freestyle relays. 
 
WOMEN
Newcomer Kirsti Keppo won the 1,000 freestyle by a 40-second margin (11:26.74).
 
Kalea Mullins produced a winning result in the 200 freestyle (2:06.76) and prevailed in the 500 freestyle (5:36.21).
 
Avery Campbell (25.95), Maggie Kelley (26.06) and Whitney Averill (26.13) secured the top three spots in the 50 freestyle. Averill claimed the 200 breaststroke (2:33.96) by a nearly nine-second margin.
 
Campbell also took top honors in the 200 backstroke (2:18.62).
 
Sarah Arpag (2:13.35) led a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 butterfly, just in front of Kate Walkup (2:15.16) and Keppo (2:25.15).
 
MEN
Linfield went 1-2-3 in the 1,000 freestyle. Gavin Smith won the event (10:33.17), comfortably in front of Levi Buker (11:07.05) and Grant Cutler (11:28.70).
 
Sasha Moore led a 1-2-3 outcome in the 200 freestyle (1:56.22), besting teammates Daniel Olson (1:56.81) and Bram Zlotkowski (2:01.47).
 
Garrett Sutton won the 50 freestyle (22.05). Jack Gallo captured the 500 freestyle (5:03.12), and Alex Landry was the fastest entrant in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.17.
 
Ben Simpson touched the wall first in the 200 butterfly (1:59.34), Gallo was second (2:01.07) and Buker finished third (2:08.40).
 
Edan Donaldson was the winner in the 200 backstroke (2:06.53), followed closely by Gavin Smith (2:08.53) and Casey Wong (2:17.94).
 
NEXT
Linfield heads to Portland on Saturday to challenge Lewis & Clark in an NWC dual meet. The two teams will also oppose entries from Southwestern Oregon Community College.