The Loyola men's and women's cross country teams traveled to Thibodaux Saturday morning to compete against NCAA and NAIA programs
THIBODAUX – The Loyola University New Orleans men's and women's cross country teams participated in its first competition as a team Saturday, competing against NCAA and NAIA programs at the Nicholls Invitational. It was the Wolf Pack's second meet of the season, but only individuals raced at the LSU Invitational last month.
While both Loyola teams placed fourth, the men's and women's teams had the best finish among the NAIA opponents in the field. The Loyola men finished fourth out of five teams in the 4-mile race, beating Dillard, while the women's team outraced both Xavier and Dillard in the 5K event Saturday morning. Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State were the NCAA programs in the meet.
The women's team had one Top 10 finisher and two more inside the Top 20 Saturday, as Madisyn Acosta led the Wolf Pack with a 10th-place finish with a time of 21:23.89. Placing two spots behind Acosta in 12th, Jasmine Martinez earned a new personal-best with a time of 22:06.27, while Amber Byrd finished 17th (22:53.04). Competing in her first collegiate race, freshman Lauren Goens just missed a Top 20 finish, running her 5K in 24:26.21 to place 23rd, and Isabel Esteb was clocked at 25:00.04, which was good for 27th place. Mallory Foret (31st, 25:56.57) and Liana Flores-Gonzalez (33rd, 27:33.93), both racing in their first meet since 2019, also competed.
The Wolf Pack men's four-mile event isn't a distance the program is used to running, but the team had three runners finish inside the Top 15, including one in the Top 10. Gabe Jacobson led the Wolf Pack with a time of 22:37.55 to place 10th out of 43 racers, and Christian Hanson (23:03.31) and Alex Medina (23:21.48) finished back-to-back at 13th and 14th, respectively. Freshman Garrett Hunsucker got his collegiate career started by placing 20th (24:20.68), and Phoenix Aquino-Thomas, who was competing in his first cross country meet since 2019, crossed the finish line 21st with a time of 24:21.49. Cameron Johnson (32nd, 25:38.25) and Peter Nelson-Broderick (36th, 26:43.27) also competed Saturday.
Loyola is next scheduled to travel to Clinton, Mississippi, next Saturday, Oct. 9, to participate in the Watson Collegiate Open, hosted by Mississippi College.
Men's 4-Mile Results
10. Gabe Jacobson – 22:37.55
13. Christian Hanson – 23:03.31
14. Alex Medina – 23:21.48
20. Garrett Hunsucker – 24:20.68
21. Phoenix Aquino-Thomas – 24:21.49
32. Cameron Johnson – 25:38.25
36. Peter Nelson-Broderick – 26:34.27
Women's 5K Results
10. Madisyn Acosta – 21:23.89
12. Jasmine Martinez – 22:06.27 (PR)
17. Amber Byrd – 22:53.04
23. Lauren Goens – 24:26.21
27. Isabel Esteb – 25:00.04
31. Mallory Foret – 25:56.57
33. Liana Flores-Gonzalez – 27:33.93
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
