Ramblers Divide and Conquer at Meyo Invitational and Windy City Rumble

The Loyola track and field program attended two events Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, with half the team staying in Chicago for the Windy City Rumble, while the other half traveled to South Bend, Ind. for a second straight week at the Meyo Invitational.

Meyo Invite:

Following a record-setting performance at the Notre Dame Invitational last week, graduate James Lawrence shattered another program record in the men’s 3000m final at the Meyo Invitational.  

Lawrence’s time of 7:52.32 broke Jim Westhphal’s 3K record from 1989 — which stood at 7:55.70 — and earned him fourth place in the final standings. Lawrence’s performance merited the fastest time in the Atlantic 10 Conference and the 24th-fastest 3K time in the nation this season. 

The only other Rambler to compete in the 3K final was fourth-year Francois Guilhot, who clocked in at 8:09.51 for a 14th place finish.

The Ramblers sent four more competitors to the men’s 3K open, where they were led by second-year Nate Boutin, who placed sixth with a new personal best of 8:07.62. Two seconds behind him was third-year Jake Phillips in ninth at 8:09.92, another personal best. 

Fourth-year Miles Clisham was next for Loyola, timing in at 8:26.18 in 19th, before second-year Cael Mulholland wrapped up the men’s event in 22nd at 8:31.18.

The Ramblers fielded two competitors in the women’s 3K, as third-year Roisin Treacy set a personal best with a time of 9:24.85 in a 13th place finish. Graduate Emma Watcke came in 22nd at 9:38.65.

Loyola sent fourth-year Samuel Field to the men’s mile final, where he placed fifth, timing in at 4:02.74. In the open mile, fourth-year Gabe Smit set a new personal record at 4:04.70, earning him fifth in the contest. First-year Izak Bibile wrapped up the Ramblers’ mile run, clocking in at 4:10.26 in 15th.

Fourth-year Alessandra Rodriguez was Loyola’s sole runner in the women’s 800m, competing in the open for a tenth place finish at 2:12.63.

The Ramblers sent competitors to both the men’s and women’s 5K, but their only male competitor, third-year Woody Jerome, didn’t finish the race. In the women’s event, second-year Eileen Seebon led the Ramblers in 21st place with a time of 17:18.33. Behind her was fourth-year Aiden Grasse, who set a personal best in 29th place at 17:40.56. 

Loyola’s final competitor was fourth-year Grace Jostock, but she didn’t finish the race. 

Windy City Rumble:

While the rest of the Ramblers were off in South Bend, Loyola competed in the men’s and women’s mile at the Henry Crown Field House in the Windy City Rumble, hosted by the University of Chicago.

The men’s side was led by second-year Trent Anderson, who finished 11th at 4:27.00, followed by second-year Aidan Collins in 15th with a time of 4:29.56. Third-year Kyle Knutson came in 23rd, clocking in at 4:32.72, while fellow third-year Gabe Ryan rounded out the top 25 at 4:33.47. Last for Loyola was fourth-year Jack Slaughter, who placed 49th at 4:43.94.

In the women’s mile, fourth-year Alex Morris placed on the podium in second at 5:15.31. Behind her was second-year Priscilla Ravera in ninth at 5:24.54, second-year Jo Collins in 12th at 5:31.67 and first-year Madison Perez in 24th at 5:43.21. Rounding out the top 30 for Loyola was first-year Charlotte Wilson at 5:46.42.

Loyola also sent three competitors for the women’s 5000m first-year Claire Botnik, third-year Ali Gillooly and fourth-year Grace Kuhn — but none finished the event.

The Ramblers will be back in action this Friday, Feb. 7 as they head to the Lewis University Invitational in Romeoville, Ill. before heading back to Chicago for the Blue Demon Alumni Classic Saturday, Feb. 8.