TACOMA, Wash. – Whitney Averill collected a pair of runner-up finishes and two fifth-place results on the women's side while Gavin Smith and Ivan Tontchev also turned in second-place efforts for the men, leading the Linfield Wildcats at the highly competitive Logger Invitational. The meet, hosted by the University of Puget Sound, wrapped up a three-day run at the UPS pool on Sunday.
 
In the team standings, Linfield's men placed fifth among six teams. The Wildcat women were sixth in a seven-team field. Division II programs Simon Fraser and Alaska-Fairbanks finished 1-2 on both ledgers.
 
WOMEN
Averill completed the 50-yard breaststroke in a quick 31.78 seconds, good for second place and was runner-up in the 100 individual medley (1:01.35). Averill also raced to a fifth-place outcome in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Her 200 IM mark of 2:15.78 in the finals trimmed more than three seconds off her preliminary time. She timed 1:09.22 in the 100 breaststroke, a full second faster than her preliminary time.
 
Also turning in top-five showings were Kirsti Keppo, who nabbed fourth place in the 500 freestyle, swimming a season-best time of 5:11.63, and Avery Campbell, who recorded a fifth-place time in the 50 backstroke, clocking 28.24.
 
MEN
Smith was the runner-up in the 1,650 freestyle (16:49.81), shaving more than 15 seconds off his entry time. He also claimed fifth place in the 400 IM, reaching the wall in 4:17.54.
 
Tontchev, a first-year Linfield performer, logged a second-place showing in the 50 breaststroke (26.42).
 
Rocco Velie earned fourth place in the 200 individual medley in 1:56.12. The Wildcats sophomore also took fifth in the 100 IM (54.61). Senior Edan Donaldson collected fifth place in the 50 freestyle (21.47).
 
AHEAD
Linfield enjoys an extended winter hiatus during the coming five weeks. The Wildcats return to compeition on January 12 when they host the Lewis & Clark Pioneers at 6 p.m. at the Linfield Aquatics Center.