Loyola Women’s Cross Country Three-peats, Men Fall Short

Following back-to-back Atlantic 10 championships for the men’s and women’s cross country teams after Loyola joined the conference in 2022, the program headed to Mechanicsville, VA Nov. 2 looking to secure a third straight conference title before the NCAA Midwest Regionals take place in Peoria, IL Nov. 15. 

The Loyola women managed to capture their A10 three-peat, while the men’s team fell just short with a second-place finish.

Women’s Cross Country Championship:

Loyola’s women dominated their 6K race as a group. Fourth-years Delia McDade-Clay, Emma Watcke and Grace Kuhn, along with third-year Roisin Treacy, crossed the finish line at the same time of 20:45.4, tying for fourth place. The time set new personal records for both Treacy and Watke. 

Rounding out the Ramblers’ qualifying runs was fourth-year Grace Jostock, who set her personal record with a time of 21:07.9. Jostock’s 14th place finish secured the championship win for the Ramblers as they finished with a total of 36 points, far ahead of the rest of the competition. 

In second place, the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen finished at 113 points. 

Loyola’s wide margin ensured a comfortable Rambler win. Even if the points from the top seven Rambler runners were counted, they still would’ve won with a score of 87, 26 higher than the next team. All eight Rambler runners finished inside the top 50.

Loyola’s other runners were second-year Eileen Seebon who clocked in at 21:17.5, earning her 18th on the day. Fourth-year Ali Gilooly captured 33rd place with a time of 21:39.3, mere seconds behind her was first-year Daphne Dornic, who finished with an even time of 21:41.0. Rounding out the pack for the Ramblers was fourth-year Aiden Grasse, who placed 49th with a time of 21:54.5.

The win secured not only the third straight A10 title for women’s cross country, but their sixth straight conference title overall after winning the Missouri Valley Conference during their last three years in the conference.

Men’s Cross Country Championship:

The Loyola men couldn’t quite capture the conference championship as they finished just behind UMass with a total of 50 points. UMass, who finished with 36 points, captured their third Atlantic 10 championship in school history. 

Despite falling short, all five Ramblers who earned points for Loyola finished in the top 16. Leading the way was fourth-year James Lawrence who finished third with a time of 23:48.8, only a tenth of a second away from matching his personal record. 

Fourth-year Miles Clisham was next to cross for Loyola as he timed in at 24:12.3, earning him seventh. Behind him in 11th was second-year Jake Phillips, who posted a time of 24:22.9, and fourth-year Samuel Field who clocked in at 24:23 even, capturing 13th. Rounding out the field for Loyola was fourth-year Gabe Smit, who finished in 16th at 24:26.6.

Loyola had three other racers competing, with the next to finish being second-year Cael Mulholland, who came in 23rd timing in at 24:41.6. The next Rambler didn’t cross until second-year Woody Jerome finished in 45th at 25:06.4. 

40 seconds behind Jerome was first-year Izak Bibile who came in 80th at 25:42.7. Rounding out the Ramblers was second-year Gabe Ryan, who finished just outside the top 100 when he finished at 26:15.6 in 108th.

Loyola had one runner not finish. Fourth-year Miguel Abaitua was on pace to place in the top 25 after the first half of the race, but ultimately didn’t complete the race. 

While men’s cross country wasn’t able to achieve their goal of capturing the three-peat, it was a successful weekend of preparation for the Ramblers who will head to Peoria, IL Nov. 15 to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regionals. The Ramblers will be returning to the Newman Golf Course for the race —  the same location as the Bradley Pink Classic where they competed Oct. 18.