Results
SALEM, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's cross country team turned in its best performance of the season on Saturday with eight Lutes running personal best times at the George Oja Invitational at Oak Knoll Golf Course.
Kai Sorensen took top billing among the Lute racers, covering the 8,000-meter course in a personal record time of 25 minutes, 18.4 seconds to place 77th overall. Noah Friederich was the next Lute in the finisher's chute, placing 91st with a personal best effort of 25:32.5.
Daniel Zimmer clocked a PR time of 27:03.6 to place 214th while
Corder Janes was 260th in a personal best 27:34.5.
Isaiah Bradley wrapped up the scoring five, netting a PR of 27:48.1 and finishing 278th.Â
Justin Garrett and
Jonah Andrews were the next two PLU finishers, both earning PR with times of 28:06.1 and 29:02.5, respectively.
Caleb Rigney was the eighth Lute to log a PR on the day, finishing in 30:37.8.Â
"What a great day for the Lutes! To have a meet where eight women and eight men set lifetime bests is unprecedented! I think this proves that the work we've been putting in is paying off, and I hope that this inspires confidence in all of the team heading into the conference championships in two weeks," said
Francis Reynolds.
"I really have to commend
Noah Friedrich for sticking his nose in it and getting after it today. There were over 400 competitors in the men's race, and I love how he challenged himself for all 8 kilometers. A big shout out to
Justin Garrett, who, despite losing one of his shoes less than a kilometer into the race, still managed to stay focused and execute his race strategy. If he can run a personal best with one shoe, I look forward to seeing what he can do at the conference championships with two. Again, I hope that the team is excited by today's performances and chomping at the bit to get after it at the conference championships!"
The Lutes finished 23rd overall in the team standings against a strong field of teams from all three NCAA divisions, the NAIA, and junior college ranks. PLU tallied 630 points, owning a 59-point gap on the University of Oregon running club. Division I Eastern Washington University took the team title with 77 points edging out the University of Portland. Trinity Western University's Yernane Mulugeta won the race, covering the 8K course in 23:34.1.
Pacific Lutheran takes next weekend off before hosting the 2025 Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday. Nov. 1.Â