Treacy Tracks All-Region Honors as Cross Country Left Out of National Championships

Loyola cross country officially closed out their fall season at the NCAA Midwest Regionals Nov. 14 in Stillwater, Okla.. The Ramblers men’s team finished fifth out of 30 teams, led by third-year Cael Mulholland in 28th. 

The women’s team finished 11th out of 32, headlined by fourth-year Roisin Treacy, earning all U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honors after finishing 22nd.

Men’s Cross Country:

Following a dominant showing at the Atlantic 10 (A10) Championships two weeks prior, where they secured their third title in four years, the Ramblers entered Midwest Regionals looking to secure the program’s first appearance in the National Championships since 2005. 

The program attempted to do so without graduate William Sinclair, who placed second in the A10 championships and held the fastest time in the last four invites for Loyola.

Loyola Athletics declined The Phoenix’s request for a comment on Sinclair’s absence. 

Instead, Mulholland headed the Rambler runners, finishing 28th overall with a time of 31:06.9. Third-year Jake Phillips finished right behind him, in 29th, timing in at 31:09.0. Graduate Jason Clayton followed in 38th at 31:39.9. Rounding out the top-50 were fourth-year Yusuf Baig and graduate Hayden Healey in 45th and 47th with times of 31:54.3 and 31:54.6.

Third-years Nate Boutin and Woody Jerome ended Loyola’s lineup in 51st and 121st with times of 31:57.1 and 33:26.9.

Loyola’s top five helped secure the team fifth overall with 187 points. Host Oklahoma State University took first with 38 points and was followed by Iowa State University in second with 41. The two top schools earned automatic bids to the NCAA National Championship. 

Third-place Oklahoma University secured the only at-large bid for the Midwest Region with 109 points, ending Loyola’s season. No Loyola runners were selected for individual at-large bids.

Despite missing nationals, Loyola recorded a record season for the program, earning the program’s first top-30 USTFCCCA ranking since 2005 when they were voted 30th following their performance at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational Oct. 3.

Women’s Cross Country:

Women’s cross country entered the Midwest Regionals looking to make the National Championship for their first time in program history. Following their seventh straight conference crown, the Ramblers hoped to carry the momentum into the invite.

Treacy proved a strong lead for Loyola, finishing 22nd with a time of 20:59.3. Her top-25 finish secured her USTFCCCA All-Region honors for the first time in her career. 

No other Rambler finished in the top-50. Graduate Bethany Graham placed 60th with a time of 21:50.2. Second-year Maggie Powers followed in 87th at 22:14.0, and third-year Eileen Seebon was three spots back in 90th, clocking in at 22:15.7. Graduate Pippa Carcas finished the Ramblers’ scoring in 106th at 22:29.5. 

Closing down the invite for Loyola were third-years Bárbara Neiva and Angy Salado Fernandez in 113th and 150th timing in at 22:33.7 and 23:00.1.

Earning automatic bids were Oklahoma State and Northwestern University, placing first and second with 55 and 86 points. Loyola’s 11th-place finish wasn’t good enough to earn them an invite to the National Championship, and Treacy finished four runners back of earning an at-large bid.

Loyola’s cross country season may be over, but indoor track and field will kick off in December, with the schedule yet to be released.