by Matthew Spencer
Whitworth’s swim team is continuing to have a strong showing at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. Swimmers have been posting not only season best times but also personal and school records.
Junior Jackie Beal set a school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.77 that beat out the previous school record she had set. Beal’s time did not qualify her for the event finals but was 21st in the morning heats.
Also impressive was sophomore Jason Smith. On Friday Smith was one-hundredth of a second away from tying the school record in the men’s 100-yard backstroke finishing the consolation final in 50.07 seconds. Smith finished 15th in the event.
Lastly, the Whitworth men’s 800-yard freestyle relay team of senior Wes Walton, senior Trevor Case, sophomore Patrick Wilber and Smith set a season-best time of 6:50.24 which was good enough to finish 20th.
After Friday’s events, Whitworth was in 29th place in the team standings.