SEATTLE, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University Men's Track and Field team finished second at the Doris Heritage Invitational hosted by Seattle Pacific University on Friday. The Lutes were able to earn Northwest Conference-qualifying marks in Friday's meet as Carson Olmstead qualified in the Men's Javelin.
 
The Men's 400 Relay team featuring Grady Lemma, Kamaehuokalani Makanui, Aiden Yost, and Kellen Meade, finished in second, just one second behind the squad from Puget Sound. Senior cross country national finisher Ryan Stracke ran a 3:54.61 in large 1500m field. Stracke finished less than one-second behind a Division II Western Washington runner.
 
Grady Lemma led the Lutes once again, continuing to improve his times in the 100-meter hurdles, as he ran a 15.28 second time, good enough fir first and earning 10 points for his team. Lemma also gained six more points for the team in the 200-meter dash, taking third behind one runner from WWU and another from UPS.
 
Meade took his speed from the 4x400 relay into the 100-meter dash, where he finished in 11.13 seconds, good for third place. Fellow cross country star, Owen Ladinig, built on his endurance in the 5000-meter run, taking second by just two seconds with a time of 14:47.9.
 
In the field, Micah Ragaza-Bourassa made the podium in the Hammer Throw after a 42.50-meter toss. Carson Olmstead showed off his strong Football arm in the Javelin, eclipsing the 60-meter mark for the first time in his career with a 60.19-meter throw. Quarterback Darius Chaffin also earned points for the team, taking fourth place in the Javelin with a toss of 51.77-meters. Meanwhile, Jake Wood securing an addition one-point, taking 8^th place in the Javelin with a best of 41.47-meters.
 
Pole vaulter Dylan Jones kept his strong season going, taking home the title in the Men's Pole Vault with a leap of 4.44-meters, Aidan Donnelly took sixth in the same event with a best mark of 3.39-meters.
 
"It was a good day! Carson breaking 60m for the first time was great to see as well on the Men's side. At the end of the day, we added more qualifiers for conference and that's what these last two meets are most important for." Said Head Coach Trey Henderson following Friday's meet.
 
The Lutes will prepare to head to Portland, Ore. next weekend to continue to earn NWC marks ahead of the conference championships on April 19^th and 20^th.
 
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