Results

SPOKANE, Wash. — Madison Downey continued the Lute monopoly in the triple jump, winning the programs' third Northwest Conference title in as many years in the event as the Pacific Lutheran University women's track & field squad placed sixth at the NWC Championships on Sunday at the Pine Bowl.

Downey became PLU's second NWC Champion of the weekend on Sunday, winning the title in the triple jump with a winning leap of 37 feet, six and ½ inches. That jump, the junior's fifth of the day, was a season best mark and ranks as the 34th best jump in NCAA Division III this season. The leap, extended PLU's dominance in the event with Downey winning the crown for the second time in three years and extending the Lute win streak to three straight. Downey was the champ in 2024 before placing runner-up to teammate Kyleigh Archer last season.

Archer, the reigning champ, placed third overall with a season-best jump of 36' 11 ½" while Kira Marshall was fifth with a mark of 35' 10 ¾". Archer also placed 11th in the javelin with a throw of 94' 0". 

"Maddie winning the title and keeping it in Luteville for the third straight year was special to end the weekend," said Head Coach Trey Henderson.

"Both Kyleigh and Kira put together great performances as well. There was a lot to be proud of. There's a lot of growth ahead for us and the staff is excited to keep developing that. Most importantly the team represented PLU the right way with how they competed and carried themselves."
 
Abi Caprye was third in the high jump, clearing 5' 2 ¼" with Sydney Sparks 10th overall (4' 10 ¼"). 
 
On the track, PLU's 4x100-meter relay squad of Lexie McGurk, D'Yhana Clemons, Soukhanya Waters, and Kiana Gutierrez clocked a time of 48.18 seconds to place third overall.
 
Caprye was fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.33 with Addisen Hering seventh in 15.61. Hering later placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:06.14. 

Kira Marshall was sixth in the 100-meter dash in 12.65 while Jessalyn Robles was eighth in the 800-meters, making two trips around the track in a season-best 2:26.64. 

Maddie Mitchell was 12th in the 1,500-meters in 4:59.18 while the Lutes closed the meet by placing eighth in the 4x400-meter relay in 4:04.34.
 
On Saturday, Ki Neir won the pole vault title, clearing 12' 0 ¾" while getting a fourth place finish from Samayia White in the hammer throw (152' 0"), a seventh place showing from Marshall in the long jump (17' 2 ¼") and an eighth place finish from Tajanai Huff in the shot put (39' 1 ¼").

PLU tallied 66 points in the team standings, placing sixth overall and finishing one points shy of fifth place Linfield University. The Lutes enjoyed a 12-point edge on crosstown rival University of Puget Sound while also placing ahead of Lewis & Clark College and Whitman College. Host Whitworth University won the team crown with 218 points with George Fox University runner-up with 191.5 points.