The Women of LUXC
Media Contact:
Ally Spiroff
English, B.A., Loyola University Chicago, Class of 2015
Digital Media & Storytelling, M.Comm., Loyola University Chicago, Class of 2017
Loyola Women’s Cross-Country/Track & Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s Cross Country Makes Loyola History at NCAA Midwest Regional
The team closes out the season with a ninth place finish
LAWRENCE, Kan., November 29, 2015 – The Loyola University Chicago women’s cross country team made history on Friday, Nov. 13, when they took ninth place at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet to close out the 2015 cross country season. Scoring a total of 292 points, the women captured the highest finish in Rambler history since the meet was established in 2005.
The Ramblers came into the meet ranked 12th in Midwest, and they ended up closing the gap and finishing ahead of three higher ranked teams, including University of Missouri, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Illinois State University. Finishing in front of Illinois State University is especially significant, as the Redbirds took third place at the Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships two weeks prior, finishing right in front of fourth place Loyola. Also noteworthy, the women finished just behind Wichita State University (eighth place with 284 points) and within striking distance of Bradley University (sixth place with 263 points), who are also conference rivals and took second and first place at the Missouri Valley Conference meet this year.
“Our team goal was to get the pack – our top five – to race and finish together,” said Lindsey Brewis, Loyola’s top finisher at the race. “Throughout the season, we got closer and closer to doing this, but everything culminated successfully at regionals. Going in ranked 12th, we were so pleased to have placed ninth. Beating some BIG 10 teams and teams that placed above us at Conference was a huge confidence boost.”
Overcoming an injury-ridden start to the season, Brewis had her best performance on the cross country course yet and clocked a personal-best time of 21:25 over six-kilometers to place 42nd overall. Next to cross the finish line was Ericka Laviste, who scored points for Loyola in every meet she has run in, placing 51st with a time of 21:31 and wrapping up a fantastic senior season. The next three Loyola finishers rounding out the score for the Ramblers also scored consistently throughout the season. These women – Julia Demko (56th place in 21:33), Emma Hatch (69th place in 21:45), and Hannah Magnuson (78th place in 21:52) – all wrapped up stellar seasons as well, really utilizing their ability to run with each other in a pack and pass people together. Also running strong for the Ramblers were Sydney Stuenkel (134th place in 22:34) and Sophie Meads (184th in 23:22).
The NCAA Midwest Regional concluded the cross country season for the Ramblers. Here is a meet-by-meet recap of the season:
Badger Season Opener @ University of Wisconsin-Madison– 2nd / 6
Teams: Wisconsin-Madison, Loyola, Northwestern, Marquette, DePaul, Wisconsin-Platteville,
Illinois State Invitational @ Illinois State University – 1st / 9
Teams: Loyola, Illinois State, Illinois-Champaign, Northern Illinois, Iowa, Eastern Illinois, DePaul, Illinois-Chicago, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
National Catholic Championships @ University of Notre Dame– 3rd / 12
Teams: Notre Dame, Xavier (Ohio), Loyola, Saint Louis, Duquesne, Marquette, Holy Cross, Canisius, DePaul, Saint Francis, Detroit, Niagara
Greater Louisville Classic @ University of Louisville – 15th / 30
Teams: Michigan, Iowa State, Penn State, Minnesota, Lipscomb, Mississippi, Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State, Hillsdale, Eastern Kentucky, Louisville, Grand Valley State, Bucknell, Richmond, Loyola, Elon, Belmont, Iona, Toledo, Southern Indiana, South Alabama, Western Kentucky, Toronto, La Salle, Edinboro, Bellarmine, Indianapolis, Hope, Western Ontario, Morehead State
Bradley Classic @ Bradley University – 3rd / 30
Teams: Illinois State, Oakland, Loyola, Kansas State, Saint Louis, Marquette, Iowa, South Dakota, Drake, Creighton, Oregon State, Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Dayton, Southeast Missouri State, Nebraska, Illinois-Chicago, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Northern Iowa, Bradley, DePaul, Missouri, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Wright State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Nebraska-Omaha, Valparaiso, Western Illinois, Chicago State
Illini Open @ University of Illinois-Champaign – 6th / 8
Teams: Bradley, Northwestern, Illinois-Champaign, Purdue, Eastern Illinois, Loyola, Illinois State, Butler
Missouri Valley Conference Championship @ University of Evansville– 4th / 10
Teams: Bradley, Wichita State, Illinois State, Loyola, Indiana State, Drake, Northern Iowa, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Evansville
NCAA Division I Midwest Regional @ University of Kansas– 9th / 32
Teams: Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Minnesota, Tulsa, Kansas, Bradley, Oklahoma, Wichita State, Loyola, Illinois, Illinois State, Missouri, North Dakota State, South Dakota, Creighton, Kansas State, South Dakota State, Drake, Iowa, Saint Louis, Eastern Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Northern Illinois Southeast Missouri State, Missouri-Kansas City, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Northern Iowa, DePaul, Missouri State, North Dakota, Nebraska-Omaha
“Our season was fun; fun to see so much growth and emerging leadership on our team,” Brewis said.
The team graduates three seniors in the top seven runners (Laviste, Magnuson, and Stuenkel), but the other four are returning for the 2016 season and will be looking to build on their success this season.
The cross country season may be over, but the running Ramblers are not even close to being done yet. Catch the Ramblers on the track! There is one early season indoor track meet on Friday, Dec. 4 at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. before the winter break. Then, the Ramblers will start up the indoor season again after the break in mid-January. Stay tuned and follow along @TheWomenofLUXC for all the track updates!
Download this release here.
About the Women of LUXC
The Loyola University Chicago Women’s Cross Country team is comprised of 21 talented and fast female athletes that are currently ranked 12th in the Midwest region. As a Division I team, they compete across the nation against all of the best cross country teams. They are a part of the second oldest athletic conference in the U.S., the Missouri Valley Conference. Their races are mostly either five or six kilometers in distance and take place in parks, wooded areas, or on golf courses. Loyola University Chicago is the only NCAA Division I program with the nickname “Ramblers” for its teams. After an injury-plagued season last year, the healthy and stronger-than-ever Ramblers look to build off of their fourth place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference Championships and their tenth place finish in the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional in 2013. The team finds a lot of strength in their tight pack known as “the pelvis,” the women that run in a group together up in the front of races. Race along with the Ramblers on Twitter @TheWomenofLUXC. Be careful: they are fast! 😉
