OAKVILLE, Ala. – The Loyola University New Orleans men's and women's cross country programs competed in Oakville, Alabama, for the Warhawk Invite on Thursday. The teams competed against programs from the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and the NJCAA. In the 5-kilometer 128-runner race, the Loyola women placed eighth among the 17 eligible teams, second among NAIA programs. The Wolf Pack men placed first among 18 eligible programs in the 150-runner 8-kilometer run.
Wolf Pack Cross Country will head to Clinton, Mississippi, for the Watson Invite on Friday, Oct. 17, at 8 a.m.
Meera Hijazi was the first to cross the finish line for Loyola. The freshman took 18th place in Thursday's meet, clocking 20:33.7. Hijazi finished fifth among all NAIA runners in Oakville. Emma Meneses was Loyola's next finisher, placing 32nd and recording a time of 21:34.2.
Sela Myers took 36th in the event for a time of 21:41.8. Logging a time of 21:47.2, Caitlyn Summers ended the race in 37th. Sophia Freeze completed the race in 56th, recording a 22:40.4 time. Andrea Bardales was the next runner for the Loyola women, taking 87th place and a 24:49.9 time. Briana Bradley was the Maroon and Gold's final finisher for the day, ending the race in 103rd place for a time of 27:48.8.
Jace Luckoski and Jacob Kennedy were the first two Wolf Pack runners to complete the race. Luckoski claimed fifth place, third among all NAIA athletes and first among SSAC runners, and recorded a time of 26:15.6. Kennedy notched sixth place, second in the SSAC and fourth among the NAIA competitors, logging a 26:21.0 time.
Aubrey Gibson, Connor Meigs, and Dylan Brown ended the race in 16th (27:25.7), 17th (27:27.5), and 19th (27:30.1), respectively. Freshmen Cole Savoy and Alastair Casler were the next two Loyola runners, taking 23rd and 27th places for times of 27:42.8 and 28:00.3, respectively. Adam Merkle completed the 8-kilometer race in 30th place, logging a 28:07.8 time.
In 41st and 42nd places, sophomores Drake Breland and Elijah Reeves recorded times of 28:45.1 and 28:51.1, respectively. Daniel Miller ended Thursday's race in 63rd place for a time of 29:36.5. Jacob Mullis and Matthew Doland crossed the finish line in 72nd and 75th places for times of 30:11.2 and 30:21.0, respectively. With a time of 30:25.7 in 79th place, David Lynn completed the race for Loyola.
Landon Dixon and Cris Velasquez were 87th and 96th to finish the Warhawk Invite. Dixon notched a time of 30:57.3, while Velasquez clocked 31:37.7. Carter Scheuermann and Bryce Darensbourg helped Loyola secure its first-place team finish, placing 114th and 125th for times of 33:26.0 and 35:40.7, respectively.
Women's 5K Results
18. Meera Hijazi, 20:33.7
32. Emma Meneses, 21:34.2
36. Sela Myers, 21:41.8
37. Caitlyn Summers, 21:47.2
56. Sophia Freeze, 22:40.4
87. Andrea Bardales, 24:49.9
103. Briana Bradley, 27:48.8
Men's 8K Results
5. Jace Luckoski, 26:15.6
6. Jacob Kennedy, 26:21.0
16. Aubrey Gibson, 27:25.7
17. Connor Meigs, 27:27.5
19. Dylan Brown, 27:30.1
23. Cole Savoy, 27:42.8
27. Alastair Casler, 28:00.3
30. Adam Merkle, 28:07.8
41. Drake Breland, 28:45.1
42. Elijah Reeves, 28:51.1
63. Daniel Miller, 29:36.5
72. Jacob Mullis, 30:11.2
75. Matthew Doland, 30:21.0
79. David Lynn, 30:25.7
87. Landon Dixon, 30:57.3
96. Cris Velasquez, 31:37.7
114. Carter Scheuermann, 33:26.0
125. Bryce Darensbourg, 35:40.7
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