Lutes Host Annual PLU Invitational

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran will run in a home meet for the only time this season when it hosts the annual PLU Invitational on the University Golf Course. The men's 8000-meter run starts at 10 a.m. and will be followed by the women's 6000-meter run at 11 a.m.

MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S INVITATIONAL: This will be the sixth version of the PLU Invitational held at University Golf Course, and it will be the smallest number of entrants since the race was moved to the PLU campus in 2004. In its old form, the PLU Invitational was held at Ft. Steilacoom Park in Lakewood. In addition to PLU, teams entered in the event include Pacific, Puget Sound, Green River CC and Clark CC. With only PLU, Pacific and Puget Sound representing the Northwest Conference, this year marks the fewest number of NWC schools ever to compete in a PLU Invitational.

ABOUT THE COURSE: The course itself, which covers three loops for the women and four for the men, is almost entirely grass, save for the final sprint on the PLU track. Because it is flat, the course generally allows for very fast times. The women's course record is 20:32.66 set by Willamette All-American Sarah Zerzan at the 2006 Northwest Conference Championships. The PLU Invitational record on the golf course is 21:27.39 set by Lewis & Clark's Amanda Phillips in 2007. On the men's side, Willamette's Ian Batch set the course record of 24:30.70 at the 2006 conference meet, while the PLU Invitational record is 25:08.81 set by Whitworth's Nicholas Gallagher in 2007. "Traditionally, the PLU course has been one of the fastest courses in the NWC," said PLU head coach Heather Kreier. "I expect this year to be no different and expect to see huge PRs by my team as we approach the (Northwest Conference) championship. Our full squads will be competing at home."

PLU INVITATIONAL HISTORY: Western Oregon has dominated at the PLU Invitational in recent years, though the Wolves will not run in this year's event. Western Oregon scored 25 points to win the 2008 men's race, followed by Whitworth, Lewis & Clark, Clark CC, Whatcom CC, PLU, Puget Sound and Green River CC. On the women's side, Western Oregon scored 29 points, followed by Whitworth, Lewis & Clark, Saint Martin's, Pacific Lutheran, Clark and Puget Sound.

WOMEN AT WILLAMETTE INVITATIONAL: At last Saturday's Willamette Invitational at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., the Pacific Lutheran women placed 16th out of 19 teams in the Cardinal division, which included teams from all three NCAA divisions. NCAA Division II Chico State won the race with 43 points, followed by Augustana (S.D.) with 114, NCAA Division I Idaho with 116 and Whitworth, the top Northwest Conference finisher, with 142. The Lutes were well back with 449 points, but they did finish just ahead of two conference foes, Puget Sound and George Fox. Youth led the way for the Lutes as frosh Suzy Olsen paced the team for the fourth straight meet, finishing 78th overall and 70th among the scorers in a time of 19:01.28 over the 5000-meter course. Another frosh, Katie Gebert, was 80th among the scorers in a time of 19:11.38, followed by junior Mary Wuest, 82nd in 19:11.88. Other Pacific Lutheran scorers were sophomore Jill Kuschel, 106th in 19:47.35, and frosh Kayley Turner, 111th in 20:23.50. "It is an exciting venue with a large contingent of NCAA D-I, D-II and D-III teams," said coach Kreier. "Most of the women's team ran lifetime and or season PRs for the 5k at Willamette." 

SHORT-HANDED PLU MEN PLACE 19TH: On the men's side, the Lutes were missing three of their top seven and it showed as they finished last in the 19-team Cardinal field. Chico State was again the winner with 45 points, followed by Division I Boise State with 52. The top Northwest Conference finisher was host Willamette, third place with 113 points. The Lutes scored 544 points. Junior John Phillips had PLU's top performance, finishing 123rd overall and 100th among the scorers in a time of 26:37.81. "Without three of our top seven runners competing, our men's team still accumulated several PRs for the season and for returners on the Willamette course," said coach Kreier.

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