PORTLAND, Ore.--- The Pacific Lutheran University Men's track and field team wrapped up their final meet with impressive times, earning multiple new personal-bests as they prepare for next weekend's Northwest Conference Championships. The Lutes earned 42 points as a team over the weekend, taking seventh out of 21 teams at the meet.
 
In the men's 100-meter dash, Steele Swinton and Lebron Smith notched personal-best marks, as Swinton took 13^th. Kai Sorensen led the Lutes in the men's 400-meter run, as his time of 50.29-seconds was a new PR, and good for the fastest time from a Division III athlete in the meet.
 
Senior Ryan Stracke led the Lutes in the distance category, taking second in the 1,500-meter run, with a time of 3:50.84, now the 15^th fastest time in Division III. Meanwhile, Jonah Andrew set a new best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, taking 12^th with a time of 11:38.73.
 
In the throws, George Sonko earned a seventh-place finish in the discus, with a throw of 138'2". Micah Ragaza-Bourassa's 160'2" throw in the hammer earned him a seventh-place finish as well. Darius Chaffin chucked a 195'5" javelin throw on his way to first-place in the event, also earning himself the new 21^st-best throw in the nation in Division III.
 
Senior Nathan Atkinson led the Lutes once again in the high jump, with a leap of 6' 3.25" to take fourth at the meet. Seth Kramer earned three-points for the team, as he took sixth in the long jump with a leap of  21' 10.75".
 
To close out the meet, the 4x100-meter relay team of Swinton, Kellen Meade, Smith, and Grady Lemma ran a time of 42.87-seconds to take fourth place.

"Today was definitely a good final competition before conference." Said Head Coach Trey Henderson.

"We added some qualifiers and saw a few personal-bests, which is all you hope for. We're excited to get back to work this week to prepare for the NWC Championships. We've got a lot of athletes who are peaking at the right time and now it's about going out and competing to the best of out ability."
 
PLU Men's Track and Field took seventh in the large meet, finishing ahead of five other Northwest Conference schools at the meet.
 
The Lutes prepare for the 2025 Northwest Conference Championships next weekend back in Portland, Ore. with hopes of bringing home hardware and earning national marks.
 
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