Results

TACOMA, Wash. — Ryan Stracke and Kai Sorensen both won distance events, pacing the Pacific Lutheran University men's track & field team on Saturday at the PLU Open.
 
"It was great to compete back at home, it's always good for the athletes and we thought this weekend was a strong follow up to our first meet," said Head Coach Trey Henderson.
 
"There were performances that showed growth from some of our younger athletes and strong days from our veterans like Ryan and Kai."
 
Stracke was in midseason form in the 5,000-meters, winning the 12 ½-lap race in a comfortable 14 minutes, 43.13 seconds. The senior enjoyed an 11-second gap on the next closest competitor and his time is the fastest 5K effort ever recorded by a Lute on the home oval, overtaking Dave Hale's previous Lute best on the home track, a mark of 14:46.7 that has stood since March 27, 1985. The Puyallup, Washington native's time additionally stands as the fastest in Division III this outdoor season.

Kai Sorensen turned on the jets in the 800-meters, winning the event in 1:56.15— a time that currently ranks as the second best time during the outdoor season this spring. 
 
Stefans Lusis was the top D3 finisher in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing fourth overall in 9:45.78. It's a time that ranks as the fourth best in D3 this season while teammate Daniel Zimmer was seventh overall in the event in 10:28.25.
 
PLU's 4x100-meter relay team was second overall in 43.22, achieving that time with a squad of Kaimana Satterfield, Kellen Meade, Steele Swinton, and Grady Lemma. The Lutes also registered a sixth place showing in the 4x400-meter relay to close out the meet, finishing in 3:37.81.
 
Darius Chaffin was fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (17.47) while Kellen Meade finished eighth in the 100-meter dash (11.07). 
 
Micah Ragaza-Bourassa set the tone for the meet during Friday's hammer throw, finishing as the top D3 competitor with a toss of 156 feet, three inches. His effort put him fourth overall while the following day finished seventh in the shot put (42' 2 ¾"). 
 
Bridger Hanis was runner-up in the high jump, clearing 5' 9 ¾" and was the top D3 athlete while Seth Kramer soared to third place in the long jump with a leap of 21' 7 ½". 
 
George Sonko was fourth in the discus with a toss of 141' 4" while placing fifth in the shot put (41' 10 ¾"). Teammates Wangyu Leeming was eighth in the discus (128' 7") while Griffin Montana was eighth in the shot put (41' 10 ¾"). 
 
Aidan Donnelly was the top Division III pole vaulter at the meet, clearing 13' 5 ¼" to snag fourth place while Blake Leahy was fifth (13' 5 ¼") in the same event. Chaffin was fifth in the javelin (172' 0") while Connor Meade was fourth in the triple jump (41' 7 ¾"). 
 
"Our focus is being process oriented and not too focused on the results and we thought the team did that well today."
 
The Lutes are back in action on Friday, hosting the PLU Invitational— the team's second of three home meets this spring.