Monday, October 22, 2012

Alumni in Town

Tim Welch ('95), Dana Kelleher ('96), Kathy Farrell ('94) Jason Ridle ('97), Jamie Kennedy ('96), and retired Whitman Swimming coach Lee Coleman

As usual, the alumni cheated their way across the pool, turning 100's into 4 x 25 relays and strapping on fins whenever possible.  It was a great event for everyone and a fun way to start racing.  As usual, our new swimmers rose to the occasion and laid down some very fast early season swims.

With 24 alumni competing in the meet, it was a fantastic turnout.  Kathy Farrell, class of '94 was the oldest alumni competing, followed by Tim Welch, class of '95, our own volunteer assistant coach Jamie Kennedy, class of '96, Dana Kelleher, class of '96, and former 200 breaststroke record holder Jason Ridle, '97.  The rest of the alumni were from the 2000's.  Also in attendance was Lee Coleman, head Whitman swimming coach from 1980-1997. And, although the alumni broke the rules early and often, there were some surprisingly fast--and legal--swims from many of our retired Whitman swimmers. 

This Saturday and Sunday, October 27th and 28th, the team heads to Portland for the Sprint Pentathlon at Pacific University on Saturday at 5pm, and the Northwest Relay meet at Lewis & Clark on Sunday at 11am.  It will be Whitman's first look at other NWC schools.  Saturday's Sprint Pentathlon consists of a 100 IM and a 50 of each stroke.  Each swimmer's times are added up and the cumulative time is then scored.  Sunday's relay meet consists of mixed medley and freestyle relays (two men and two women), 3 x 100 relays of each stroke, a 3 x 100 IM relay, a 3 x 200 freestyle relay and a 3 x 300 freestyle relay.  Conference dual meets start across the conference the following weekend, with Whitman at home for Friday and Saturday meets against Linfield and Willamette.