Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University track & field programs host its first of two home meets today, welcoming teams from around the Pacific Northwest to campus for the PLU Open.
Teams Competing: 11 total collegiate teams are slated to participate along with a handful of club programs and unattached athletes. The 11 college teams represent all three NCAA divisions, the NAIA, and junior college ranks.
From Division I: Seattle University From Division II: Saint Martin's University, Seattle Pacific 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
About the Lute Women: Pacific Lutheran opened up the 2026 outdoor season last Saturday, competing across town at the University of Puget Sound's Ed Boitano Invitational. On the track, Heather Johnson made her 400-meter hurdles debut, posting a time of one minute, 7.28 seconds with Addison Hering finishing seventh overall in the same event in 1:13.77.
PLU's 4x100-meter relay squad of Lexie McGurk, D'Yhana Clemons, Soukanya Waters, and Kiana Gutierrez was second overall in 49.33 while Waters also placed fifth in the 100-meters in 12.55.
Tajanai Huff won the shot put with a heave of 38 feet, 6 1/4 inches while Samayia White was fourth in the same event with a toss of 34' 3". Sandra Valmonte placed fourth in the hammer throw (145' 1"), while Ki Neir (2nd- 10' 9") and Madison Donwye (4th- 10' 9") logged top five finishes in the pole vault.
Kyleigh Archer was second in the triple jump with a leap of 35' 1 3/4" and was fifth in the long jump (16' 5") while Downey placed third in the triple jump (34' 9 3/4").
About the Lute Men: The PLU men also opened the outdoor campaign at Puget Sound's Ed Boitano Invitational with Seth Kramer headlining the meet. Kramer was named the Northwest Conference Field Athlete of the Week on Monday, securing the honor after placing runner-up in the long jump. Kramer left a career best 23' 0 3/4" to second second place. His mark is currently the best outdoor long jump mark in NCAA Division III this season and sits 11th on PLU's all-time performance list. Hunter Kleindl was second in the pole vault, clearing 13' 11" with Peter Essex fifth after soaring over 12' 11". Bridger Hanis was fourth in the high jump, clearing 6' 1 1/2" while in the throws, Micah Ragaza-Bourassa was fourth in the hammer throw (168' 9") and Griffin Montana was fifth in the shot put (45' 2 1/4").
On the track, Tiger Willingham clocked an 11.26 in the 100-meters while Kramer finished the 200-meters in 23.20. Noah Friedrich paced the distance crew, clocking a time of 32:28.25 in the 10,000-meters.
Preseason Expectations: The NWC released its preseason coaches' polls for men's and women's track & field back in February with the Lute men picked to finish third and the PLU women picked to finish fifth at the 2026 NWC Championships. The 2026 Championships will be held on April 25 & 26 at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Meet:
Mar. 21: Brad Moore Invitational
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu