Lute Salute Series

TACOMA, Wash. - Jonny Maier made a significant impact as a member of both the Pacific Lutheran University men's cross country and track & field programs over the past four years, earning All-Northwest Conference honors in both sports and guiding the Lutes to the 2018 NWC Championship in cross country.
 

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.

Highlights: NWC XC Freshman of the Year 2018 NWC XC Champions Collegiate PRs: 1,500 meters: 4:08.89 3K Steeplechase: 9:25.78 5,000-meters: 15:32.14

 
A Seattle native, Maier made an immediate impact for the Lutes as a first-year, finishing 17th at the NWC cross country championships to earn NWC Freshman of the Year and help PLU to a runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Maier was All-NWC in the fall, powering the Lutes to a league title and a fifth place finish at the NCAA West Regional while that spring was runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and fifth in the 5,000-meters. 
 
"I think my favorite sports memory at PLU was sweeping the steeple race at the 2019 NWC Championships at PLU. It was just such a great moment, and getting to do it in front of a home crowd just made that moment even more special."
 
Maier had his best finish at the conference cross country championships as a junior in 2019, placing 15th before seeing the track & field season get erased due to COVID-19. Maier closed out his career on a high note this spring, once again finishing runner-up in the steeplechase at the NWC Championships.
 
"Athletics has taught me all about leadership, and how to work as a team. It has taught me to that through hard work and perseverance, I can accomplish my goals."
 
An economics major with minors in mathematics, statistics, and environmental studies, Maier was a member of the PLU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee along with being involved in the PLU Athletic Department leadership program- Lutes Lead. Maier was a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma honors society and a four-time NWC All-Academic Award winner. 
 
"My teammates have had a huge impact on me over the past 4 years. They have gotten me through all of the ups and downs of college, supporting me the entire time. My coaches have also had a huge impact on me over the course of my four years at PLU. They were always pushing me to be my best, and supporting all of my goals. I would not have been able to compete as well as I did without them."
 
After graduating, Maier moved to Colorado Springs and is currently working as an area manager for Amazon.