Setting the Scene: Throwers Carson Olmstead and Alicia-Ellalynn Soliai are heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where they will represent Pacific Lutheran University at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday and Friday. Olmstead will compete on Thursday in the javelin with Soliai entering the shot put ring on Friday.
 
THURSDAY:
Olmstead at NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (3 p.m. Eastern)
FRIDAY:
Soliai at NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (4 p.m. Eastern)
 
Men's Track & Field: The Lutes sent a handful of athletes last Thursday to the George Fox University Final Qualifier. Micah Ragaza-Bourassa set a personal best in the hammer throw with a heave of 142 feet, eight inches, placing fourth overall while finishing third in the shot put (43' 7"). Carson Olmstead was the top D3 finisher in the javelin while Grady Lemma won both the 110-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles.
 
Olmstead will compete tomorrow in the javelin at the NCAA Championships. The sophomore makes his nationals debut after earning a qualifying mark with a runner-up finish at the Northwest Conference Championships with a throw of 197' 6". 
 
Women's Track & Field: Last week, PLU competed at the George Fox Final Qualifier with Madison Downey and Kyleigh Archer finishing 1-2 in the triple jump. Downey won the event with a mark of 36' 4 ¼" while Archer was second with a jump of 35' 7 ¼". 
 
Alicia-Ellalynn Soliai heads into Friday's NCAA Championships with the 15th best mark in NCAA Division III. Soliai qualified after a throw of 45' 5 ¼" at the Portland Distance Carnival. 
 
All-Star Attaways: A dozen Lutes were honored with awards last week. The PLU softball team had six earn All-Conference accolades. Casey Wright and Rylie Wada earned First Team honors while Paola Garcia, Emma Ware, and Brooke Tilson were second team selections. Molly House was named Honorable Mention.
 
PLU also had six track & field student-athletes earn All-Region from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. National qualifiers Carson Olmstead and Alicia-Ellalynn Soliai headline the list along with Katy Cook, Madison Downey, Georjina Soliai, and Eva Wirth. 
 
Congrats Grads: Thursday and Friday will see our senior Lutes graduate in ceremonies held inside Olson Gymnasium. The 2024 seniors have made a huge impact on the University over the past four seasons with team sports winning 468 games over the four years, including 346 NWC games, and 225 home games. 
 
Chi Alpha Sigma: Last Friday, the Lutes inducted 58 student-athletes into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society in a short ceremony at the PLU Baseball Field. Learn more: LINK
 
Luteys Rewind: The PLU Athletic Department celebrated the school year on May 13, with the annual Luteys Awards Show. Grady Lemma and Hannah Cecil won the Athlete of the Year Awards while Halle Hetzler and Ryan Stracke nabbed the Sara Officer Career Impact Award and the Dr. David Olson Career Impact Award, respectively. Check out more award winners here: LINK
 
Global Lutes: This spring, several Lute student-athletes capitalized on the University's great study away opportunities, spending time in Japan, Spain, England, and Trinidad & Tobago. Lear more about their experiences: LINK
 
All-Sports Standings: The Northwest Conference announced the final McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports Trophy Standings on Monday with Pacific Lutheran finishing sixth overall with 170 points. The Lutes scored points across 16 sports, including winning league titles in men's and women's soccer and volleyball and placing third in men's track & field, softball, and football. Learn More: LINK
 
Softball: The Lutes (24-19, 18-10 NWC) closed the books on the 2024 season on May 11, finishing one win shy of the Northwest Conference Tournament Championship game. 
 
PLU finished third at the NWC Tournament, falling 8-3 to Lewis & Clark College in the postseason opener on May 10 before rebounding with a 2-0 victory over Willamette University the following day. The Lutes saw its season come to a close later in the day, getting edged 8-7 by Lewis & Clark.
 
The Lutes had six players earn All-Conference honors with Casey Wright and Rylie Wada both securing First Team All-NWC honors. Wright additionally was named Second Team All-Region X by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.