Husky Invite Day 1

Time to update the records in the split notebook!

It was a great first day at the 2013 Husky Invitational!  The fast pool and stiff competition produced many of Whitman's fastest times so far this season.  After a couple of good relays to start things off this morning, things really started to heat up during the 500 freestyles.  Freshman Cole Weinstein cracked the 5 minute barrier for the first time this season with a 4:56, and Senior, Mel Notari swam to a season-best 5:30 in her 500 as well.  During the 200 IMs, freshman, Shanley Miller, and Sophomore, Elise Tinseth, both went season-best times in the event.  Senior, Claire Collins, followed their performance with a season-best of her own, laying down a very solid 2:12.50.  Nic Win followed up the women's performances with a season-best 1:59 in his 200 IM.
By the time we arrived at the 50 freestyle, energy was high and times really dropped!  5 Whitman Women were under :26 in the event, including Tai Hallstein's record setting 24.23.  The men followed suit with season bests for several of our Men.
The Women closed out the morning session with two great relays, placing 16th and 44th.  Whitman's "A" relay was Seniors Keller Hawkins, Claire Collins, and Melanie Notari, and Tai Hallstein.  The "B" relay team was Freshman, Josie Furbershaw, Sophomores, Jo Brunner and Elise Tinseth, and Senior, Ellen Banks. Whitman Men's "B" relay also swam in the morning session and placed 25th overall.  Sophomores, Will Erickson and Robby Dorn teamed up with Junior, Dane Kawamoto, and fellow Sophomore, Loic McGivering for the relay.

In Finals, things got off to a very fast start with the men's 200 freestyle relay.  The Whitman record time of 1:25.07 looked feeble as the "A" relay team combined for a 1:25.79.  Sophomore, Loic McGivering led off, followed by Freshman, Sean Terada; Sam Starr was third and Karl Mering anchored the relay with a staggering 20.26 split.  Junior, Nic Win, had the first individual event final of the night in the 200 IM after several higher seeds scratched out of the finals.  Swimming in 32nd position, lane 8 in the "D" final, Nic went for it right out of the gate and led the race from the beginning and never let up.  He posted a 1:57.34, smashing his prelims swim of 1:59.72.  Tai Hallstein had the next individual event final.  She, too, swam in lane 8 but in the "B" final.  Her 10th place overall time of 24.17 lowered her school record in the event and inched her closer to the NCAA Provisional qualifying time of 23.89.  Sam Starr followed Tai's 50 with an outstanding race of his own, dropping .03 from prelims with a season-best 21.40 which was good enough for 14th overall.  The Men's 400 medley relay proved to be the highest placing event of the day at 5th overall--no small feat in a field full of some of the best club swimmers in the country.  Their final time of 4:28.66 is currently the fastest in the NWC by over 2 seconds.

When one considers that we swam a double workout on Monday, swam and lifted weights on Tuesday, and then rested up on Wednesday and Thursday, the meet is off to a fantastic start!  We fully expect more great swims to come tomorrow and Sunday!  Keep checking the Facebook and Twitter for more info.  The meet is also published to Meet Mobile and the live results page is up and running.  Go Whitman!