March 6, 2008

TRACK & FIELD: Lutes Break the Ice This Weekend in Oregon

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran at Joe Peyton Invitational hosted by the University of Puget Sound, 11 a.m.

BACK AT IT: After a particularly solid showing from the women’s team in the 2008 outdoor track & field opener last Saturday in McMinnville, Ore., the Pacific Lutheran team returns to action this coming Saturday at the Joe Peyton Invitational hosted by the University of Puget Sound. Action begins at Joe Peyton Field at Baker Stadium at 11 a.m. The meet is named in honor of the late Joe Peyton, who was a great athlete and later a coach at the University of Puget Sound.

THEY REALLY BROKE THE ICE: The Lutes competed last Saturday at the Linfield Icebreaker, and several of the Lutes really did break the ice on the 2008 outdoor season in impressive fashion. Junior Faven Araya had one of the more notable showings as she won the 400-meter dash in a time of 58.88. Araya, who competed in the 400 hurdles at the 2007 national meet, set a lifetime best in the 400. The mark set by Araya ranks 13th on PLU’s all-time top 25 list. Along with her win in the 400, Araya finished fourth in the 200-meter dash (26.89). Junior teammate Amy LeBrun placed third in both the 100 (13.06) and the 200 (26.86), while freshman Lakia Arceneaux took second overall in the 100-meter dash (12.93). Arceneaux, LeBrun, and Araya teamed up with Lynette Millard to win the 4x100-meter relay (50.09). Lexie Miller ran a lifetime best in the 5000 (18.40.23) and punched her ticket to the Northwest Conference meet. The duo of Lauren McDonald (39:53) and Jillian Bartling (39:55) both ran lifetime bests in the 10,000-meter run join Miller in qualifying for the conference meet. The throws featured Taylor Hacker and Karin Hatch, who both competed at the national meet last season. Hacker placed third in the hammer (152-11) and Hatch took second in the javelin (126-00). On the men’s side, two athletes set conference meet qualifying marks – Colton Oliphant in the hammer (138-01) and Isaac Moog in the long jump (21-03 1/4). Moog’s mark in the long jump was almost two feet farther than he had jumped in limited preseason training.

- PLU -