TACOMA, Wash. - The Whitman College swimming teams concluded the Logger Invitational on Sunday with the women's team placing third and the Blues men fifth. The three-day event was hosted by the University of Puget Sound at Wallace Pool.

"We are really happy with how we competed at the meet," said head coach Jenn Blomme. "Some of the times were great, a few weren't, but I was so proud of how the team raced. There were so many close races or even moments when we were behind and our swimmers pushed hard to get to the wall first."

The women's 400 medley relay team headlined the day for the Blues. The team of Ashley Joe, Miranda Williams, Abbey Felley and Gaby Thomas earned a bronze place with a race time of 4:02.01. The Blues faired well in the 100 breastroke as well. Williams placed fourth (1:05.77) with Becca Hoffman behind her for fifth (1:06.97).

Added Blomme, "Miranda's (Williams) race was one the best of her career. Several folks were within range of their conference championship times from last year, which is really encouraging." The women's team also saw six 6th-place finishes helping them to their strong overall score.

The Blues men held strong and maintained their fifth-place standing from Saturday. Michael Chang had the day's best place for either team. He came in second in the 100 fly (51.64), just over one tenth of a second behind winner Dylan Osborne of the College of Idaho.

Brandon Bees added a sixth-place finish in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:47.77.

Whitworth won the men's competition with Concordia-Irvine winning on the women's side.

The Invitational was Whitman's final event of 2018. The Blues return to action after the new year, hosting Northwest Conference meets against Pacific Lutheran (Jan. 11) and Puget Sound (Jan. 12).