Lute track & field hosts Brad Moore Invitational

Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University track & field programs host its second meet in as many weeks, bringing teams from around the region to Tacoma and the PLU Track for the Brad Moore Invitational.

Teams Competing: Nine total collegiate teams are slated to participate along with a handful of club programs and unattached athletes. The nine college teams represent NCAA Division II and Division III, the NAIA, and junior college ranks.

From Division II: Saint Martin's University and Western Washington University From Division III: PLU, University of Puget Sound, and Whitman College From NAIA: Evergreen State College and Northwest University From Junior College (NWAC): Green River College and Olympic College

Same Meet, New Name: The PLU Invitational was renamed as the Brad Moore Invitational for the 2026 season, honoring PLU Hall of Fame Coach Brad Moore.

Moore coached the track & field and cross country programs for more than 25 years from 1980 to 2005. He coached over 160 NAIA and NCAA Division III First Team All-Americans, won a combined 52 conference championships (24 in cross country and 28 in track & field), in addition to winning the NAIA Women's Cross Country Championship in 1988.

Moore coached 16 individual national champions and was twice named NAIA Cross Country National Coach of the Year (1988 and 1990), was the 1995 NAIA regional track & field coach of the year, and won NWC Coach of the Year eight times in track & field and seven times in cross country.

About the Lute Women: Pacific Lutheran battled the elements last Friday, winning six events and the team title at the PLU Open.

The Lutes set the tone by winning the 4x100-meter relay, speeding around the home oval in 50.41 seconds to snag the top spot.  Addison Hering took top billing in the 100-meter hurdles with a winning time of 16.16 while teammates Abi Caprye (17.10) and Lilly Achterling (17.19) crossed the line in fourth and fifth, respectively.  D'Yhana Clemons was the top collegiate finisher in the 100-meter dash, checking in second overall in 13.25 with Lexie McGurk in third in 13.36. McGurk would later win the 200-meter dash, finishing in 27.55 with  Kiana Gutierrez placing third (27.77) and Soukhanya Waters fifth (28.53). 

Damaris Ibrahim was third in the 400-meters, making one trip around the track in 1:08.96 with Tina Bullen fourth in 1:11.65.   Heather Johnson was runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles, posting a time of 1:09.79 with Achterling placing third (1:13.71), Hering fourth (1:15.63), and Adalia Olmos fifth (1:16.29).  Jessalyn Robles paced the distance crew, finishing runner-up in the 800-meters in 2:32.25 with Maddie Mitchell fourth overall in 2:35.85. Mitchell additionally finished 12th in the 1,500-meters in 5:19.01.    Mariel Robles was third in the 5,000-meters, making 12 ½ laps around the track in 20:12.20 with Natalie Moran-Padilla and Rachel Rosario placing fourth and fifth, respectively, with time of 21:00.08 and 21:36.42.    In the field events, Caprye soared over four feet, 11 ¾ inches into a soggy apron to win the high jump while teammates Achterling, Madison Donwey, and Sydney Sparks all tied for third place after clearing 4' 9 ¾".    Kyleigh Archer won the triple jump, leaping 34' 7 ¾" with Downey third with a mark of 32' 7".  In the throws, Sandra Valmonte was third in the hammer throw with a heave of 139' 1" with Samayia White fifth with a toss of 135' 9".  Capitalizing on the ideal conditions inside Olson Gymnasium, Ki Neir won the pole vault by clearing 10' 11 ¾" while Downey was second with a vault of 10' 6". Caprye was third, also clearing 10' 6". 

PLU won the team title after amassing 230 points, enjoying a 100-point buffer over second place and crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.

About the Lute Men: PLU battled a wintery mix of snow and rain on Friday afternoon, hosting its annual PLU Open on campus.  The Lutes ran uncontested in the 4x100-meter relay, clocking a winning time of 44.61 seconds on a slushy home track.  Jack Erickson was fourth in the 400-meter dash, sprinting around the overall in 55.60 while Seth Kramer was sixth in the 200-meter dash in 23.74 with Erickson finishing eighth in 23.77.   Tyger Willingham and Kaden Watts tied for ninth place in the 100-meters, both crossing the tape in 11.73. In the distance events, Noah Friedrich was fifth in the 5,000-meters. Crossing the line in 16:06.45 while Jonah Andrews placed fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:40.85. In the field events, Bridger Hanis was fifth in the high jump, clearing five feet, nine ¾ inches while inside Olson Gymnasium Hunter Kleindl placed fifth after clearing 13' 6" while Peter Essex and Garrett Armbruster both cleared 13' 0". Micah Ragaza-Bourassa was fourth overall and the top D3 competitor in the hammer throw with a toss of 159' 0" with Calvin Cummings ninth with a mark of 126' 11". PLU wrapped up Friday with the 4x400-meter relay squad placing second in 3:41.73.

In day two, George Sonko placed sixth in the shot put with a heave of 44' 6" while Griffin Montana tallied an eighth place showing with a throw of 42' 3 1/2".   Trevor Noble was fifth in the javelin with a mark of 151' 9", achieved on his sixth and final attempt of the day. Placing ninth was Jake Wood with a toss of 143' 9".