FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – The Whitworth swimming teams opened the 2023 Northwest Conference Championships with competition in the 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays on Thursday night at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.

The Pirate men finished second in both relays and are in second place in the team standings after two events.  The women's team finished fourth in the medley relay and fifth in the 800 relay and are in fourth place.

Whitworth's men finished as runners-up to Whitman in the medley relay.  The Blues touched in 1:31.82 and the Pirates in 1:32.69.  Whitman also won the 800 free relay in 6:50.50 to Whitworth's 6:55.40. 

The men's team scores through the first two events are: Whitman 80, Whitworth 68, Linfield 60, Lewis & Clark 58, Willamette 54, Pacific Lutheran 50, Pacific (Ore.) 44, Puget Sound 30, George Fox 28.

The Pirate women finished fourth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:49.89.  Linfield won in 1:46.72.  Linfield also won the women's 800 relay in 7:46.41.  Whitworth touched fifth in 8:06.80.

The women's team scores through the first two events are: Linfield 80, Pacific Lutheran 64, Whitman 64, Whitworth 58, Willamette 52, Lewis & Clark 50, George Fox 48, Pacific 40, Puget Sound 34.

The first individual events of the championships will take place on Friday with morning preliminary heats starting at 9:30 am and finals starting at 5:00 pm.  The 200-yard freestyle relay will also take place on Friday night.