This is the sixth in a seven-part series profiling the six inductees and one special award winner that will be honored on April 18 at the Pacific Lutheran University Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet inside Olson Gymnasium. Today's feature is on 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Sandy Metzger who was a member of the Lute track & field team from 1993-1996.
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An eight-time Northwest Conference Champion and a four-year All-American, Sandy Metzger is arguably one of the most decorated sprinters in school history.
The Seattle, Washington native began her career in the spring of 1993, where at the Husky Classic to open the season, Metzger clocked the sixth-fastest time in school history in the 400-meters. Metzger would only get faster from there, winning the 200-meters at the Salzman Invitational. She helped the Lutes win the team title at the Northwest Conference Championships that year, placing fourth in the 200-meter dash, third in the 400-meter dash, second in the 4x100-meter relay, and was a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay team.
That success continued at the 1993 NAIA Championships, earning All-American honors after helping the 4x400-meter relay team place sixth, while also running on the sprint medley relay team that finished fifth in the prelims. Metzger's efforts helped the Lutes place 12th in the team standings at the national meet.
The following season, Metzger was runner-up in both the 200-meters and 400-meters at the NWC Championships while helping the 4x100-meter relay team to a conference title in a meet record time of 48.34. At the NAIA District Meet, Metzger was on the Lutes' winning 4x400-meter relay squad while finishing third in the 400-meters and fourth in the 200-meters. Metzger's efforts powered the Lutes to the team title at both the NWC Championships and at the NAIA District Meet. Metzger helped the 4x100-meter relay team shatter a school record and finish sixth at the NAIA Championships, securing All-American honors for the second year in a row and propelling the team to a 10th place team finish.
As a junior in 1995, Metzger led the Lutes to their 15th straight conference title by winning conference titles in the 200-meters, 400-meters, 4x100-meter relay, and the 4x400-meter relay. That included shattering a conference meet record in the 4x100-meter relay. Metzger was named the Outstanding Performer at the NAIA Northwest Regional, helping PLU win the meet by taking first place in the same four events she did at the conference meet. A national qualifier in three events, Metzger was All-American again thanks to a fifth place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. Metzger's efforts played a key role in the Lutes finishing third at the NAIA Championships, tying for the best finish in program history.
Metzger capped off her star studded career in 1996, repeating as NWC Champion in both the 200-meters and 400-meters. Metzger was the NAIA Regional Champion in the 200-meters and placed third in the 100-meters to give the Lutes another team title. Metzger finished the year at the NAIA Championships, earning All-American honors in two events thanks to a fourth place finish in the 400-meters and a sixth place showing in the 200-meters. That success helped Pacific Lutheran place seventh in the team standings, marking the third straight top 10 team finish for the program.
Behind Metzger's success was a powerful support group between her coach and her relay teammates.
"(Coach Gary) believed in me more than I believed in myself. He knew how hard to push me and when I needed to rest. My relay teammates also had a huge impact because they always encouraged me and kept me going when the times got tough."
Metzger ended her career as a five-time All-American and an eight-time conference champion, leaving campus with school records in four events. 30 years later, Metzger still holds the school record in the 400-meters and 4x400-meter relay, and sits second all-time in the 4x100-meter relay, third all-time in the 200-meters, and sixth all-time in the 100-meters.
"I'm proud of the hard work that I put in to get All-American honors all four years of track and twice my senior year, and of the school records that I set. I'm also proud I was able to work in the athletic training room as part of my education while still being a student-athlete. All of that has gotten me to where I am today."
Metzger graduated with a degree in physical education with an exercise science concentration and sports medicine specialization. Metzger continues to be involved in athletics, now serving as the athletic trainer and sports medicine teacher at Edmonds Woodway High School, a position she's held for over 20 years. Metzger also serves as the head athletic trainer for the Edmonds School District.
An animal lover, Metzger is a volunteer for Dogs on Deployment, taking care of dogs while their owners are deployed through the military. She current lives with her four dogs and her 20-year old cat.
