TACOMA, Wash. – For the first time since the Lutes won the Northwest Conference Championship in 2018, the Pacific Lutheran University men's cross country team claimed a meet title. 

"What an amazing day of cross country," said PLU Head Coach Adam Frye.  "It was so much fun to host a home meet for the first time in two years.  We were grateful for the opportunity to rac in front of alumni, family and friends. Their support was much appreciated.  Our guys were stoked to win today.  Even better was that they did it by executing the way we wanted, being patient at the start and finishing strong.  Ryan, Heze and Owen ran outstanding races to lead us."

Junior Ryan Stracke placed second overall Saturday to lead three Lutes in the top 10.

Stracke finished in a time of in a time of 25 minutes, 25.8 seconds on the 8,000-kilometer course. It was the second consecutive meet Stracke led PLU after placing in 10^th at the Puget Sound Invitational earlier this month.

Hezekiah Goodwin was eighth in 25:52.6 and Owen Ladinig was ninth in 25:56.1.

The Lutes finished with 63 points overall, while NCAA Division II Central Washington was second with 68 points. Northwest Conference rivals Lewis & Clark and Puget Sound were third and fourth, respectively.

Junior Stefans Lusis was 23^rd in 26:43.4 and senior Trey Robak was 25^th in 26:46 to round out the scoring runners for the Lutes.
Pacific's Riley Stewart won the individual title in 25:21.5.

The Lutes, who are ranked ninth in the most recent NCAA Division III West Region rankings, have two weeks off before heading to Salem, Ore., on Oct. 2 for the Charles Bowles Invitational hosted by Willamette University.