Loyola Track Feels the Love with 11 New PRs Over Valentine’s Weekend

Loyola indoor track split up over the Valentine’s Day weekend with half the team staying in Chicago for the Blue Demon Alumni Classic hosted by DePaul University Feb. 13. The other half traveled east to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University Feb. 13-14.

Entering the weekend, Loyola’s men’s team was ranked 11th in the 5000m and 24th in the 3000m by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Blue Demon Alumni Classic:

The Ramblers opened the Blue Demon Alumni Classic with the men’s 800m where third-year James Howell and graduate Miguel Abaitua finished consecutively in fifth and sixth, both setting personal records with their times of 1:51.50 and 1:51.56.

In the women’s 800m, first-year Natalya Kuchenbuch — the sole Ramber runner — placed 14th with a time of 2:18.09.

Moving to the men’s mile, fourth-year Colby Revord led the pack in fifth, setting a new personal best at 4:06.60. Second-year Izak Bilbile finished last for Loyola in 11th at 4:11.14. Third-year Trent Anderson registered to run the mile for Loyola but didn’t compete in the event.

Loyola sent three runners for the women’s mile, headlined by first-year Frances Perry posting her best time of the season in 16th at 5:10.25. Second-year Lindsey Kiehl and first-year McKenzie Willard ended the event back-to-back in 18th and 19th with times of 5:19.77 and 5:19.97.

The weekend ended with the 3000m, where both the men’s and women’s side sent four runners but only had three finishers on each side. First-year Francesco Benelli led the Loyola men in seventh, clocking a time of 8:26.55. Second-year Dylan Ybarra and fourth-year Kyle Knutson finished in 15th and 21st with times of 8:44.68 and 9:10.14, while fourth-year Woody Jerome also competed but didn’t finish the race.

Third-year Jo Collins finished 18th in the 3000m with a time of 10:19.41. First-year Mackenzie Armstrong ended in 21st at 10:25.06, and graduate Kayla Schmidt placed 24th clocking in at 11:03.96. Third-year Priscilla Ravera registered for the 3000m but didn’t compete.

David Hemery Valentine Invitational:

Loyola opened their weekend in Boston Friday with the men’s 3000m and 5000m. In the 3K, third-year Nate Boutin led the way in 44th, improving upon his eighth best time in Loyola’s record books with a time of 8:02.16, besting his previous record of 8:04.12. First-year Eugene Niox-Chateau recorded another personal best for the Ramblers, finishing 65th timing in at 8:08.25.

Fourth-year Jake Phllips continued the trend of personal records in the 5000m placing 14th at 13:41.93, beating his previous record of 13:54.74 to move into third in program history. Third-year Cale Mulholland moved from 10th to sixth in Loyola history with his new record of 13:59.50 in 58th. Graduate Hayden Healy rounded out the group in 70th at 14:00.53 for the program’s eight best time.

The Ramblers had two runners race unattached from the university, first being fourth-year Yusuf Baig who placed 47th in the 5K at 13:55.96 for a personal record and time that would have ranked him fifth in program history. Loyola’s other solo runner was graduate Rodolfo Sanchez racing in the mile with a personal best time of 3:59.84, good for 30th and would’ve placed him fourth in the record books. 

The women took to the track Saturday, starting with the mile where second-year Leah Klapatauskas placed 66th with a time of 4:52.36 for a personal best. Second-year Maggie Powers also competed in the mile but didn’t finish the race.

Graduate Roisin Treacy finished 53rd in the 3000m clocking in at 9:27.78 with fellow graduates Sammy Mason and Pippa Carcas rounding out the event in 139th and 144th at 9:55.64 and 9:56.84.

In the 5000m, third-year Angy Salado Fernandez finished 98th timing in at 16:55.93 with third-year Eileen Seebon behind her in 103rd at 16:57.91. Closing out the invite for Loyola was graduate Ali Gillooly finishing 127th with her time of 17:32.14.

Loyola wraps up their indoor track invites next weekend, heading to South Bend, Ind. for the third time this season for the Alex Wilson Invite Feb. 21. Following their final invite, the Ramblers will head to Virginia Beach, Va. for the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 27-28.