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In 1998, in Pacific Lutheran's first
season as a NCAA Division III member, no PLU athletic
team had as significant a national impact as did
the track & field squad. While the Lute women
placed third at nationals, the PLU men did them
one better by finishing second, led by discus champion
and three-event All-American Luke Jacobson. This
noteworthy performance is indicative of the kind
of program that head coach Brad Moore and his assistant
coaches created during the past 25 years.
Starting with the 2004-05 season, the torch was
passed to Heather Kreier. Kreier, also the cross
country head coach, joined the track program as
an assistant coach in 2003. She takes over a women's
program that has been one the most dominant program's
in the region. The evidence is staggering: Since
1981, the Lutes have won 18 Northwest Conference
championship meets. The PLU women have finished
in the top five at nationals on eight occasions
and have earned first team All-America honors a
total of 62 times. Female athletes representing
Pacific Lutheran have climbed to the top spot on
the individual event victory stand eight times at
national meets since Kristy Purdy first won the
10,000-meter run at the 1982 NAIA national championship.
Over the past 18 years, the Pacific Lutheran men
have won 10 Northwest Conference championships,
including four straight from 1997 through 2000.
PLU individual athletes have dominated at the conference
level, nine times winning the NWC Athlete of the
Meet award. Since 1988, the Lute men have finished
in the top 10 at the national level on six occasions.
Pacific Lutheran's rise to track & field prominence
come over time and with hard work, leading to the
breakthrough conference championship in 1988. Since
1981, more than 50 men have earned All-America recognition
while wearing a Pacific Lutheran singlet.
An added bonus to this winning formula is the track,
which gives the Lutes the advantage of being able
to practice and compete on campus. In addition,
Pacific Lutheran's fine corps of hammer throwers
enjoys a state-of-the-art throwing ring, christened
during the 2000 season.
Contact Info:
Head Coach: Heather Kreier
Olson Auditorium
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
Phone: (253) 535-7371
Email: kreierhy@plu.edu
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