Loyola’s indoor track team opened their 2026 slate at the Hoosier Horsepower Classic in Indianapolis Jan. 16-17, with two days of races at the invitational. The Ramblers opened the weekend strong, led by fourth-year Jake Phillips, who finished first in the men’s 3000m with a time of 8:12.57 — .31 seconds ahead of the University …
Loyola’s indoor track team opened their 2026 slate at the Hoosier Horsepower Classic in Indianapolis Jan. 16-17, with two days of races at the invitational.
The Ramblers opened the weekend strong, led by fourth-year Jake Phillips, who finished first in the men’s 3000m with a time of 8:12.57 — .31 seconds ahead of the University of Illinois first-year Pol Molins.
Third-year Cael Mulholland and graduate Hayden Healey were next to cross in the 3000m for Loyola in sixth and seventh place with times of 8:22.28 and 8:31.30. Third-year Trent Anderson placed 12th with a time of 8:55.39, and fourth-year Kyle Knutson rounded out the group in 18th, clocking in at 9:07.13.
The women’s team showed out in the 3000m with five finishes in the top-10. Third-year Eileen Seebon placed highest in third with a time of 9:56.02. Graduate Pippa Carcas trailed less than a second behind on her way to fourth, with a time of 9:56.66.
Second-year Maggie Powers crossed next in sixth place at 10:00.88, followed by third-year Angy Salado Fernandez in eighth at 10:01.27 and graduate Ali Gilooly rounding out the top-10 at 10:03.38.
Three other Ramblers raced in the event, with graduate Sammy Mason and third-year Priscilla Ravera finishing back-to-back in 19th and 20th at 10:26.59 and 10:27.03. Graduate Kayla Schmidt was the last Loyola runner to cross in 27th with her time of 10:51.27.
The last Loyola event Friday was the women’s distance medley relay, which is a race consisting of four different runners doing four different lengths, typically a 1200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m laps, making the race equate to roughly 2.5 miles.
Loyola’s four runners were fourth-year Leah Klapatauskas, first-year Natalya Kuchenbuch, third-year Jo Collins and second-year Lindesy Kiehl, who put in a performance of 12:19.15, earning them second out of the two school race. Butler University came from behind on the 1600m leg as the Bulldogs finished with a time of 12:14.68.
Saturday brought on more races and records for the Ramblers, starting with graduate Roisin Treacy claiming the women’s mile crown with her time of 4:53.56, with Klapatauskas behind her in fourth at 5:01.07.
Second-year Claire Blotnik crossed next in 12th place at 5:10.60. First-year Mackenzie Armstrong rounded out the top-15 at 5:18.10, with Collins in 20th at 5:23.67, and first-year McKenzie Willard finished 24th, clocking in at 5:33.52.
In the men’s mile, the team put in a strong performance with six of the seven Rambler runners placing in the top-10 — the only Rambler to not place being graduate Jason Clayton, who didn’t finish the race.
The first of the six was second-year Izak Bibile, who led the pack with a personal record and the 10th-fastest time in school history, finishing second overall at 4:06.27. Fourth-year Colby Revord finished behind him with a personal best in third with a time of 4:07.07, and third-year Nate Boutin in fourth at 4:09.99. First-year Eugene Niox-Chateau clocked a time of 4:11.79 in sixth place, while second-year Dylan Ybarra finished eighth at 4:15.69. First-year Francesco Benelli rounded out the group in 10th with his time of 4:17.99.
Kuchenbuch led the way for Loyola as their sole competitor in the women’s 800m, where she finished fourth with a time of 2:16.83.
In the men’s 800m, graduate Miguel Abaitua placed fifth at 1:51.95, with third-year James Howell ending the weekend in eighth at 1:53.18.
Loyola will take the course next in South Bend, Ind. Jan. 24 for the Notre Dame Invite, hosted by the University of Notre Dame.
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