Ramblers Race to 10 New Personal Records at Split Invitational

Loyola’s track and field team split up Jan. 30-31, with half the team staying in Chicago for the Chicago Collegiate Invite while the other half traveled back to South Bend, Ind. for the Meyo Invite hosted by Notre Dame University.

Chicago Collegiate Invite:

At the Chicago Collegiate Invite, first-year Natalya Kuchenbuch led the bunch with a podium performance in the women’s 800m, placing second with a time of 2:19.80. 

The Ramblers also sent a single runner to the men’s 3000m with fourth-year Kyle Knutson in seventh at 8:55.72.

Loyola registered five runners for the women’s mile, with three competing. Third-year Jo Collins and second-year Claire Blotnik didn’t start the race, as Collins competed at the Meyo Invite. Leading the pack was first-year Frannie Perry in sixth at 5:12.79. Ending the event for Loyola were first years Mackenzie Armstrong and McKenzie Willard in 10th and 11th at 5:16.25 and 5:17.11.

Meyo Invitational:

Graduate Miguel Abaitua led Loyola in the men’s 800m championship, earning 11th with his time of 1:53.04. In the women’s 800m open, second-year Leah Klapatauskas finished 24th at 2:16.19.

In the men’s mile, fourth-year Colby Revord secured 13th with a time of 

4:08.51, while third-year James Howell set a personal record of 4:11.43, good for 22nd.

In the women’s mile, second-year Maggie Powers scored a personal best of 4:52.40 and placed 12th, while second-year Lindesy Kiehl’s time of 5:02.19 earned her 33rd and Collins finished the mile at the Meyo Invitational with a personal best at 5:08.19.

The men’s team competed in two separate 3000m races at the Meyo Invitational, the 3000m open and the 3000m Ryan Shay Invite where select runners were chosen to compete. 

The Ryan Shay Invite is named after former Notre Dame runner Ryan Shay, who died while competing in the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in 2007. During the race, Shay collapsed and was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed he died of heart failure due to cardiac arrhythmia, a condition due to his enlarged heart.

In the Ryan Shay 3000m, third-year Nate Boutin placed 12th with a time of 8:05.60. Fourth-year Jake Phillips earned his spot in the Loyola record books with his time of 8:06.39, a personal record and 10th fastest in Loyola history. Graduate Hayden Healey set a personal best in 16th at 8:09.24 and second-year Izak Bibile rounded out the group in 25th at 8:33.40.

The open 3000m saw third-year Cael Mulholland take first with a personal best time of 8:10.84. First-year Eugene Niox-Chateau earned another personal record in fourth at 8:13.16 with first-year Francesco Benelli in 24th at 8:36.11. Second-year Dylan Ybarra and third-year Trent Anderson finished the 3000m back-to-back in 31st and 32nd with times of 8:53.50 and 9:07.26.

Graduate Roisin Treacy was the sole Loyola competitor in the 3000m final, setting a personal record and earning seventh at 9:16.96. Her time secured her second in program history, behind only Emma Watcke, whose time of 9:14.85 still stands.

In the women’s open 3000m, graduate Pippa Carcas kicked off the event, placing seventh with a personal record of 9:48.50 for seventh in Rambler history. Third-year Eileen Seebon came 11th at 9:53.56 with third-year Angy Salado Fernandez in 16th with a personal record of 9:54.87.

Graduate Sammy Mason finished in 18th at 9:57.02 before third-year Priscilla Ravera and graduate Ali Gillooly finished consecutively in 31st and 32nd with times of 10:09.68 and 10:12.96. Last for Loyola was graduate Kayla Schmidt in 41st at 10:53.12.

Ending the Invite for the Ramblers was fourth-year Woody Jerome in 11th with his time of 14:40.20.

Loyola track and field splits up once more in two weeks at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic hosted by DePaul Feb. 13 and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, hosted by Boston University Feb. 13-14.