FEDERAL WAY – Pacific Lutheran claimed two more top seeds and another program record Sunday morning at the final preliminary session of the 2016 Northwest Conference Swimming Championships at Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center.
Fourteen Lutes earned top-8 seeds to the final heat of events Sunday evening, plus five Lutes are set to compete in the 1650 freestyle finals to begin the final session. Shanell Sullenberger set a program record in the women's 200 breaststroke Sunday morning, as her prelims time of 2:24.12 surpassed Kina Ackerman's previous team mark of 2:25.11 by nearly a full second. Kiana Sullenberger finished second in the prelim heat with a time of 2:25.65, while Kylie Webb placed fourth (2:26.74) to give PLU three of the top four seeds heading into finals.
The Lutes also boast three of the top four seeds in the women's 100 freestyle. Hanna Armstrong led the way with a prelims time of 52.66, while Alex Weeks ranks second (52.84) and Melissa Dean ranks fourth (53.34) heading into the final round.
Taylor Bingea heads into the finals as the top seed in the women's 1650 freestyle, while Erica Muller is seeded fourth and Jessica Stenberg ranks seventh. On the men's side the Lutes have Hunter Cosgrove seeded fifth and Bradley Jerome seeded sixth in the event. Bingea will also race in the women's 200 butterfly finals, as she is seeded sixth in the event (2:13.51), while teammate Sarah Ameny goes into the evening as the third seed (2:13.02).
Seth Villeda is seeded second in the men's 200 butterfly after putting up a prelims time of 1:52.9, which was an NCAA 'B' qualifier, while Matt Wehr is slotted sixth going into finals (1:54.08). Cody Hartman ranks third in the men's 200 backstroke with a time of 1:53.35, with Bryson Baligad ranked fifth (1:56.66). The men's 200 breaststroke final heat will feature Bennon VanHoof seeded fifth (2:09.48) and Dennis Liu seeded eighth (2:11.05).
Final round action begins at 5 p.m. at King County Aquatic Center.
PLU's Sunday Final Heat Seeds:
Men 200 Backstroke
3. Cody Hartman, 1:53.35
5. Bryson Baligad, 1:56.66
Women 100 Freestyle
1. Hanna Armstrong, 52.66
2. Alex Weeks, 52.84
4. Melissa Dean, 53.34
Women 200 Breaststroke
1. Shanell Sullenberger, 2:24.12^
2. Kiana Sullenberger, 2:25.65
4. Kylie Webb, 2:26.74
Men 200 Breaststroke
5. Bennon VanHoof, 2:09.48
8. Dennis Liu, 2:11.05
Women 200 Butterfly
3. Sarah Ameny, 2:13.02
6. Taylor Bingea, 2:13.51
Men 200 Butterfly
2. Seth Villeda, 1:52.9B
6. Matt Wehr, 1:54.08
Women 1650 Freestyle
1. Taylor Bingea, 18:13.94
4. Erica Muller, 18:17.95
7. Jessica Stenberg, 18:52.51
Men 1650 Freestyle
5. Hunter Cosgrove, 16:51.3
6. Bradley Jerome, 16:51.68
B NCAA 'B' Qualifier
^PLU record
