Cross Country Splits Up for Final Fall Competitions

Loyola cross country split up for two events this weekend, with both teams traveling to Peoria, IL, for the Bradley Pink Classic Oct. 18. The team wasn’t there in its entirety, as several racers from the men’s side were sent to Madison, WI for the Pre-Nationals Invite Oct. 19.

Bradley Pink Classic:

Loyola men’s and women’s cross country dominated the Bradley Pink Classic Oct. 18, with the men’s team finishing first in the white division and the women’s team finishing second in the red division.

The men’s team only competed in the white division 8K at the invitational, as they placed first overall with all five runners finishing in the top 15. 

Graduate Samuel Field led the field in first with a time of 24:42.22, which was 17 seconds faster than his teammate, first-year Izak Bibile who set a personal record, and finished third at 24:59:50.

Behind him was fellow first-year River Santiago who also achieved a personal best with a time of 25:09.71 and a sixth-place finish. 

Rounding out the top ten was second-year Gabe Ryan with a time of 25:25.35 earning him ninth. The last Rambler qualifier came from fourth-year Fionn Harrington in 14th at 25:40.86.

Second-years James Howell and Aidan Collins finished in 21st and 39th, with times of 25:50.16 and 26:12.14, both running new personal records. Closing out the pack was second-year Kyle Knutson who finished 81st with a time of 27:14.98.

The women’s team continued the success as they took second overall in the red division, but didn’t place in the white division as they only ran four runners.

The white division was led by fourth-year Aiden Grasse who set a personal record and finished second with a time of 21:47.62. Behind her was fourth-year Ali Gilooly at 22:10.32 in ninth overall. 

The other two Ramblers in the white division both finished in the top-20, with personal records of their own — redshirt fourth-year Alessandra Rodriguez finished 16th with 22:31.44 while second-year Priscilla Ravera was two spots behind with 22:37.69.

The red division, also known as the “A” event at the Bradley Pink Classic, was led by another Loyola personal record, coming from graduate Delia McDade-Clay who finished sixth timing at 20:24.40. Behind her in ninth was fourth-year Grace Kuhn who set a personal best of her own at 20:32.11. 

A Rambler didn’t cross the finish line again until third-year Roisin Treacy finished 22nd with a time of 20:59.60. Fourth-year Grace Jostock came 34th timed at 21:09.72 setting her own personal best while second-year Eileen Seebon and first-year Maggie Powers timed in at 21:23.96 and 21:43.56 placing 54th and 78th.

Wisconsin Pre-National Invite:

Seven Ramblers traveled north to Madison, WI for the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, marking a final warmup before the A10 conference championship and NCAA Midwest Regionals. Facing 19 of the top 30 teams in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings previewed the intense competition Loyola will face this fall. 

Heading into the event, the Loyola men’s team ranked third in the Midwest Region.

All seven Ramblers competed in the men’s 8k “A” race as Loyola ended the contest finishing 28th out of the 32 universities present. 

Leading the Rambler pack was fourth-year James Lawrence, who clocked in at 23:48.70 and finished 94th overall. The next Rambler racer behind him was another fourth-year in Miguel Abaitua who placed 103rd and timed in at 23:55.70

Next for Loyola was fourth-year Miles Clisham who finished in 154th with a time of 24:19.40. Rounding out the top 200 for the Ramblers were second-years Jake Phillips and Cael Mulholland who crossed in 169th and 194th at 24:25.30 and 24:36.10.

The rest of the Ramblers placed consecutively as fourth-year Gabe Smit and second-year Woody Jerome finished 221st and 222nd with times of 25:03.60 and 25:08.30.

The Wisconsin and Bradley invites were the last time the Ramblers will compete before the Atlantic 10 conference cross country championships take place Nov. 2. Two weeks later, Loyola competes at the NCAA Midwest Regionals Nov. 15, back in Peoria, IL.