TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University men's track and field team recorded five event victories, four runner-up finishes and won the team title at the Ed Boitano Invitational at University of Puget Sound.
"It was a great start to the outdoor season for the Lutes," said PLU Head Coach
Adam Frye. "It was fun for our women and the men to take the team titles in our opening meet. I loved the effort and grit I saw from our athletes and am excited about what's ahead."
Keola Sanchez stole the show for the Lutes as he won the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes on Saturday and also anchored the PLU 4x400 relay team that finished second. Sanchez and
Kellen Meade went 1-2 in the 100 dash, with Sanchez dusting the field with an 11.20 and Meade finishing in 11.54. Sanchez broke the tape in 22.86 in the 200 to finish at the top of the podium.
Grady Lemma,
Hezekiah Goodwin,
Jai Alapai and Sanchez combined to record a 3:28.29 over the four laps to take silver.
Lemma and
Darius Chaffin finished first and second, respectively in the 110 hurdles. Lemma recorded a 15.98, while Chaffin finished in 16.52. Lemma also took the top spot in the 400 hurdles after completing the lap in 56.92. Goodwin and
Logan Werner continued to accumulate a wealth of points for PLU as they finished second and third in the 1,500-meter run. Goodwin completed the course in 4:02.79 with Werner nipping at his heels in 4:03.17.
On Friday night,
Ryan Stracke took runner-up honors in the 10,000-meter run, finishing in 30:17.10.
The field events were also strong for the Lutes. Reigning Northwest Conference Champion
Corey Solomon captured the gold in the pole vault after clearing 14' 8".
Cooper Claxton placed third in the triple jump (39' 10 ¾") and fourth in the long jump (20' 9 ¾"). In the throws,
Larson Fairbairn placed third in the hammer throw (152') and
Masum Real was second in the discus (142' 3").
"Keola was blazing today in winning the 100 and 200," said Frye. "Grady was awesome competing in five events, winning both hurdles and handing off in first place in the 4x4. Corey had a nice season's best in the pole vault.
Ryan Stracke had a huge opener last night in the 10k. To come so close to the school record in his first race of the season and post a very likely NCAA qualifier was awesome. Ryan has been working so hard the last three years and it's great to see the dividends of that investment."
PLU totaled 167 points to edge out Whitworth University for the top spot in the team standings. The Pirates tallied 163 points to finish just behind the Lutes. Spokane Community College was a distant third with 100, Western Washington University was fourth with 56 and the host Loggers rounded out the top five with 55.
The Lutes will host the PLU Open next Saturday with the action beginning at 10:00 a.m.
