For only this season, the Loyola Wolf Pack men's and women's cross country teams are competing in the Association of Independent Institutions, and the men's team took home first place at the A.i.i. Championships Saturday
CAVE CITY, Ark.. – The Loyola Wolf Pack men's cross country team won their second straight conference championship Saturday, taking the top spot in the 8K race at the Association of Independent Institutions Championships in Cave City, Arkansas. The women placed fourth in the 5K race at the A.i.i. Championships, and the two teams are set to rejoin the Southern States Athletic Conference next season.
With the win, the Wolf Pack men's team will compete at the NAIA National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 9, while Catherine Coldiron qualified individually for the women's team with a second-place overall finish. Saturday's win also made the Wolf Pack men a perfect 4-for-4 this season, placing first as a team in every meet.
Walter Ramsey claimed the individual conference title with a time of 27:20.30 to win his second straight race and fourth of his career. Hayden Ricca finished eight seconds behind Ramsey to take second place, putting the Wolf Pack in a good position for the team title. Ricca's 27:28.32 was more than 13 seconds faster than the third-place finisher from William Woods University, and Ramsey and Ricca have finished first and second, interchangeably, in all four races this season.
Christian Hanson, Peter Nelson-Broderick and Gabe Jacobson provided Loyola the extra depth to win the championship, as all three finished in the Top 10. Hanson placed sixth with a time of 28:52.76, Nelson-Broderick was eighth after running a 29:06.64, and Gabe Jacobson ran a 29:07.54 to finish ninth overall. Daniel Welch and Alex Medina took home 12th and 15th, respectively, running times of 29:34.55 and 30:28.21. Dylan Smith ran a 31:54.00 to place 21st.
Saturday's title is the sixth conference championship for the men's cross country program, and Ramsey is the fourth individual champion in Loyola's history.
Freshman Catherine Coldiron set a new Loyola personal-best with her time Saturday, placing second with a 20:12.91. She finished just two seconds behind the overall winner from William Woods, and that time topped her previous season-best by 10 seconds.
Sophomore Madisyn Acosta was the next finisher for the Wolf Pack, running a 22:31.83 to place 12th overall. Sophomore Amber Byrd was behind Acosta in 13th place with a time of 22:31.83, and Zoe Dunekack and Hannah Ivory placed 29th and 31st with times of 27:56.05 and 29:00.22.
"The course was difficult; hilly with muddy soft uneven footing and standing water. This slowed times considerably and was even more challenging than when we raced here three weeks ago. Coupled with sun, heat and humidity, these were races of attrition. Finishing times are not indicative of how well everyone raced; it was just a tough day and course to run fast times on.
"Our women were without two of our usual top-five scoring runners in Isabel Esteb and Jasmine Martinez. We would have finished third and challenged for second place if they both had raced and finished. Catherine Coldiron raced spectacularly in placing second and qualifying for nationals as an individual. She raced with the leaders the entire time and outkicked the third-place finisher in the final 50 meters of the race but couldn't quite catch the race winner. Madisyn Acosta and Amber Byrd raced well as our No. 2 and No. 3 runners and Zoe Dunekack and Hannah Ivory both ran courageous races.
"Walter Ramsey and Hayden Ricca shadowed the top runner from William Woods then slowly pulled away to place first and second. Our second pack sealed the win and consistently won battles during the race. Christian Hansen outkicked a 1:54, 800m runner from Trinity Christian to place sixth while Peter Nelson-Broderick and Gabe Jacobson in eighth and ninth, and Daniel Welch (12th) all finished strong outkicking runners over the final 400 meters of the race. Alex Medina and Dylan Smith placed 15th and 21st for Loyola.
"I'm proud of everyone and I think they all had a fun trip. They raced as hard as they could, were consummate teammates and had great attitudes. The workers at a Subway in Winona, Mississippi, even commented how they were the most pleasant, well behaved and polite group of athletes they had ever served."
Men's 8K Results
1. Walter Ramsey – 27:20.30
2. Hayden Ricca – 27:28.32
6. Christian Hanson – 28:52.76
8. Peter Nelson-Broderick – 29:06.64
9. Gabe Jacobson – 29:07.54
12. Daniel Welch – 29:34.55
12. Alex Medina – 30:28.21
21. Dylan Smith – 31:54.00
Women's 5K Results
2. Catherine Coldiron – 20:12.91
12: Madisyn Acosta – 22:14.85
13. Amber Byrd – 22:31.83
29. Zoe Dunekack – 27:56.05
31. Hannah Ivory – 29:00.22
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.
