Results
ESTACADA, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's cross country team ended the season on a high note, with three of its seven runners collecting personal best times at the 2024 NCAA Division III West Region Championships at Milo McIver State Park.
Sal Mattivi led the charge, covering the 6,000-meter course in 23 minutes, 13.3 seconds. The first-year at in 79th place at the 1K mark before slowing moving on up. Mattivi crossed the finish 64th overall and was just two seconds off a personal best time.
Anna Iverson was the next Lute in the finisher's chute, placing 80th overall in 23:35.5.
Annika Deazley was 107th with a season-best effort of 24:26.9.
Jessalyn Robles and
Victoria Lindley rounded out the scoring five, both setting PRs at the regional meet. Robles capped off her first collegiate cross country season by placing 127th in 24:49.2 while Lindley was two spots back after finishing in 24:50.8. Lindley's time was a 29-second PR and is the second straight race the senior has clocked a PR.
Rachel Rosario had a 41 second PR, finishing in 25:53.4 while
Natalie Moran-Padilla capped off the Lute runners, clocking a time of 26:57.0.
"Once again our women put it all in the line and had their best race of the season," said Head Coach
Jacob Wahlenmaier.
"Illness struck one more time and our #3 from conference was out sick, but Rachel really stepped up as our #8 from Conference and, after running a 5k time trial Tuesday, had her best race of the season and ended up our #6. Hats off to our seniors as well with all three ending the season with their best race yet and our freshman star, Sal, who led our team as our #1 for the first time since our first meet of the season."
The Lutes improved one spot in the team standings from a season ago, scoring 500 points to finish 21stoverall. PLU was just two points shy of 20th place California Lutheran University and just four away from Northwest Conference rival Pacific University for 19th overall.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges won the regional title, scoring 61 points, edging runner-up Colorado College by a single point. CMS's Riley Capuano was the top individual finisher, motoring around the course in 20:54.1.
