Results

NEWBERG, Ore. — Owen Ladinig won the 10,000-meters and Grady Lemma clocked the fastest qualifying times in both hurdle events as the Pacific Lutheran University men's track & field team had a strong showing in day one of the 2024 Northwest Conference Championships on Friday at George Fox University. 
 
Ladinig started off the meet with a bang, taking the lead two miles into the 10,000-meters and never looked back, keeping the title in-house to win his first-ever conference title. Ladinig completed 25 laps around the oval in 31 minutes, 6.40 seconds, enjoying a comfortable 15-second gap on second place finisher Alex Peter from Whitworth University. Ladinig becomes the second straight Lute to win the NWC crown in the 10K with teammate Ryan Stracke winning the title last spring. 
 
Stefans Lusis was third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, securing All-Conference honors after circling the track in a personal record time of 9:17.32. 
 
Lemma clocked the fastest qualifying time in the 110-meter hurdles, earning the preferred lane for tomorrow's final after clocking a personal record time of 14.79 to win heat two. Lemma was the lone hurdler to break 15 seconds in the preliminary heats with a time that ranks as the sixth fastest in PLU history. Lemma later secured the best qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles, circling the track in a season-best time of 56.06. 
 
The Lutes qualified two into the 100-meter finals with Keola Sanchez owning the second best qualifying time in a speedy 10.83 with Kellen Meade also punching a ticket to tomorrow's finals with a season-best 10.90. Meade additionally slipped into the finals of the 200-meters, sprinting to a time of 22.08 to finish runner-up in his heat with the seventh fastest time on the afternoon. 
 
Kai Sorensen qualified for tomorrow's 800-meter final, finishing runner-up in his heat and fourth overall in a personal record time of 1:54.4. 
 
In the throws, George Sonko was fourth in the discus with a personal record toss of 147' 5" while Micah Ragaza-Bourassa was fifth in the hammer throw with a toss of 139' 5".
 
"It was a great first day! All about just competing. Grady overcoming some adversity to pr in the 110 and Owen grinding out a title," said Head Coach Trey Henderson.

"Not just them but multiple pr's and kids just showing up and putting it all out. Excited to compete one more day!"

Seth Kramer was fifth in the long jump with a personal best jump of 22' 6 ¼" while Bridger Hanis was sixth in the high jump, clearing 6' 0 ¾".
 
The Lutes close out the 2024 NWC Championships tomorrow with field events beginning at 10:30 a.m. and running events commencing at noon.