FEDERAL WAY , Wash. -- Whitworth's men won four of five events on the way to first place after the first day of the Northwest Conference Championships at the King County Aquatic Center on Friday night. Barely outdone, the Pirate women won three of five events and stand in third place as a team.

Steve Garka won the 50 Freestyle in an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 21.36, then completed a come-from-behind victory for the Pirates in the 400 Medley relay as Whitworth defeated UPS 3:31.50 to 3:33.67. Luke Stocker, Bryan Clarke and David Lillard were also part of the winning relay.

The Whitworth men also picked up big points by finishing 1-2-3 in the 200 Individual Medley. Loren Killgore won the race with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:54.99. Clarke (1:57.53) and Lillard (1:58.20) followed in second and third, respectively.

David Dolphay won the 500 Freestyle with a provisional qualifying time of 4:38.22. In the 50 Free, Justin Brandler (22.15) and Luke Stocker (22.22) finished in fifth and sixth places.

Whitworth's 200 Free Relay of Brandler, Lillard, Stocker and Garka was edged by UPS 1:26.20 to 1:26.45.

Samantha Kephart highlighted the women's night with a win in the 500 Freestyle in a new school and meet record time of 5:01.17. Annie Grayson was 7th in 5:23.68. Brittany Gresset won the 50 Freestyle in 24.27, an NCAA provisional qualifying time and only .02 off of the Pirate team record. Luan Ly took 8th in 25.72.

The women's medley relay team of Lindsey Gresset, Katelyn Erickson, Kephart and Brittany Gresset won by coming from more than three seconds behind UPS. The Pirates finished in 4:00.90 to the Loggers' 4:03.01.

The meet conintues on Saturday and concludes on Sunday. The Pirate men are aiming for their fourth consecutive NWC title and fifth in the last six years.

Day One Team Scores:

Men - Whitworth 240, Puget Sound 186.5, Linfield 128.5, Lewis & Clark 106, Whitman 86, Pacific Lutheran 74, Willamette 59, Pacific 7.

Women - Puget Sound 216, Lewis & Clark 173, Whitworth 157, Whitman 122, Linfield 84, Pacific Lutheran 82, Willamette 53, Pacific 50.