Pepperdine University Athletics

Site of the 1984 Olympic water polo competition, Pepperdine's Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool is recognized as a sparkling blue jewel carved amidst the rugged Santa Monica Mountains. The Pepperdine facility has gained prominence and fame as one of the premier aquatic centers, located on one of the most picturesque campuses in the world.

Versatility is another key characteristic of the facility. In addition to water polo, Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool has been the site of several distinguished swimming competitions.

Named in memory of Raleigh Neal Runnels, son of Pepperdine Chancellor Dr. Charles Runnels and a cancer victim at age 17, the pool was dedicated on April 18, 1976. The facility was primarily funded through the generosity of Mrs. Frank Rogers Seaver and Morris B. Pendleton.

Opened for use in 1975, the pool was designed and built by Nader Construction. It contains approximately 700,000 gallons of water, ranges from three to 16 feet in depth and is equipped with one- and three-meter diving boards. The estimated construction cost was $450,000. Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool was renovated in the spring of 1997 with an improved filtering system, and was completely rebuilt during the summer of 2013.