Headlines: Treacy and Watcke Shatter Program Records in Split Weekend

Loyola outdoor track and field split up this past weekend for the Raleigh Relays and WashU Distance Carnival March 27-29. In North Carolina and Missouri, the Ramblers captured multiple personal records and two new program records.

Raleigh Relays:

The women first competed in the 800m and were led by redshirt fourth-year Alessandra Rodriguez, who set a new personal best of 2:08.27 — good for the fourth fastest time in program history and 22nd place. Behind her was graduate Kate Wojcikiewicz, who finished in 123rd in a pool of 165 with a time of 2:15.36.

Heading to the 1500m, the Ramblers saw the first of two program records set by graduate Emma Watcke at 4:17.03, beating Loyola Hall of Famer Gina Valgoi’s time of 4:19.00 set at the 2013 Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Watcke earned ninth in the event. 

Rodriguez also raced in the 1500, earning herself a time of 4:26.09 — good for 76th and fifth in program history. Wojcikiewicz rounded out the event for Loyola, coming in 223rd at 5:04.66

In the steeplechase event, the record books were shattered again as fourth-year Roisin Treacy achieved a season goal of beating her personal best. The school record of 10:34.69 was overtaken by her time of 10:22.28, good for 19th in the competition. 

On the men’s side of the relays, Loyola was represented solely by graduate Samuel Field, who earned 40th in the 800m at 1:50.93.

Field led the Ramblers again in the 1500m when he earned a new personal best of 3:41.82 — placing him 21st in the competition and fourth-best in Loyola history. Another Loyola personal best was set by second-year Nate Boutin at 3:49.24 for 77th. 

Fourth-year Jason Clayton also ran unattached in the 1500m and claimed a 62nd-place finish at 3:48.12.

In the 3000m steeplechase, fourth-year Gabe Smit was the sole competitor, capturing 51st at 9:09.38.

In the 5000m, third-year Jake Phillips earned 142nd at 14:22.77, and second-year Cael Mulholland rounded out the weekend in the 10K with a time of 29:01.33.

WashU Distance Carnival:

The other half of the Ramblers traveled to St. Louis, where competition began with the women’s 1500m. Fourth-year Alex Morris finished sixth in her heat at 4:42.00, while fellow fourth-year Grace Kuhn finished her heat in fourth, earning a personal best at 4:31.75.

Fourth-year Grace Jostock secured the best time for the Ramblers in the 5K, capturing ninth at 16:51.11 and earning a new personal best. Fourth-year Ali Gilooly was next at 16:57.84, good for second in her heat and another personal best. First-year Madison Perez capped off the 5K by capturing sixth in her heat with a time of 19:09.97. 

Second-year Eileen Seebon led in the 10K and finished 28th in her heat at 36:06.52. 

In the 3000m steeplechase, fourth-year Aiden Grasse won fifth at 11:06.52, capturing a personal best and sixth-best time in program history.

Graduate Miles Clisham led the men in the 1500m and finished with a time of 3:50.43 and placed sixth in his heat. First-year Izak Bibile won first place at 3:51.02. 

In the 5K, third-year Kyle Knutson placed 17th in his heat at 15:57.49. Third-year Woody Jerome wrapped up the weekend in the 10K, coming in ninth at 29:47.65.

The Ramblers will split up again this upcoming weekend April 4-5, as half the team will head to Stanford, Calif. for the Stanford Invitational, while the other half stays local in Elmhurst, Ill. for the Chicagoland Championships.