Ramblers Race into Second at National Catholic Championships

Loyola cross country finished strong at the Notre Dame National Catholic Championships Sept. 20 — the men’s 8k and women’s 5k — with both the men’s and women’s teams placing second overall in their respective competitions.

The Ramblers traveled to South Bend, IN a week after receiving top rankings in the Atlantic 10.

In the 8k, third-year Jason Clayton led the Ramblers with a fifth-place finish and time of 23:52.2. His run was only 11.7 seconds behind top finisher fourth-year Carter Solomon from the University of Notre Dame. 

Both Loyola and Notre Dame dominated the leaderboard, as the two universities represented the first 19 places.

The four other qualifying Ramblers were fourth-years Miguel Abaitua — earning ninth with a time of 24:02.5 — and Miles Clisham in 14th place with 24:13.8. 

Rounding out the group were second-year Jake Phillips, who ran 24.15.8 for 16th place, and fourth-year Gabe Smit who was two spots and 3.1 seconds behind Phillips.

Landing just within the top-20 was fourth-year James Lawrence in 19th. Second-years Cael Mulholland, Gabe Ryan and Woody Jerome placed 28th, 31st and 33rd, respectively.

First-years River Santiago and Izak Bibile rounded out the top 50, finishing in 45th and 49th.

Loyola’s last finishes included third-year Fionn Harrington in 53rd, second-year James Howell in 73rd, second-year Aidan Collins in 93rd and second-year Kyle Knutson rounding out the group in 109th. 

The women’s team saw similar fortunes in the 5k event, finishing second overall. Second-year Julia Isham finished 10th with a time of 17:16.2. She was half a minute behind Notre Dame’s first-year Mary Bonner Dalton, who was unaffiliated for the competition.

Fourth-year Delia McDade-Clay finished second for the Ramblers in 12th place with a time of 17:27.8. The last three qualifying Ramblers, fourth-years Grace Jostock and Emma Watcke and third-year Roisin Treacy, finished consecutively in 17th through 19th with times of 17:41.2, 17:44.4 and 17:45.6, respectively. 

Loyola totaled 54 points during the day, earning them second place as Notre Dame captured first once again with 15. 

Second-year Eileen Seebon placed 25th, followed closely by first-year Maggie Powers who finished two places behind her. Fourth-year Aiden Grasse and third-year Lillian Mataway stayed close together, finishing in 31st and 34th. Fourth-year Ali Gillooly and first-year Claire Blotnik crossed the line one-after-another and second-year Priscilla Ravera took last for the Ramblers in 61st place.

The Ramblers’ return home for their next competition Oct. 4, where they’ll host the 45th annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational along Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline.