Cross Country opens season at Mississippi College Friday

CLINTON, Miss. – The Loyola Wolf Pack men's and women's cross country teams kicked off the season on Friday at the Mississippi College Opener. The Maroon and Gold competed against several teams from across the Gulf Coast and from NCAA Divisions I and II, along with familiar NAIA foes in Mobile, Spring Hill, William Carey, and Xavier. The Loyola women finished third among 13 eligible teams, and the Wolf Pack men ended the meet third among 16 programs.

The Loyola men beat SSAC foe William Carey while finishing one spot behind Mobile, while the women finished in front of Mobile and finished one spot behind WCU.

The Wolf Pack will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 19, when Loyola hosts the Loyola Triangular 8-kilometer meet at Parc de Familles in Westwego, Louisiana. The home meet is set to start at 7:30 a.m.

In a 96-runner 5-kilometer race, the Wolf Pack women finished with a score of 146. Freshman Meera Hijazi led the way with a time of 21:13.52, taking 23rd place. Emma Meneses was next, claiming 30th place with a 21:56.25 time. Also making her Loyola debut, Sela Myers completed the race in 39th, clocking 22:33.56. Caitlyn Summers ended the event in 43rd for a 22:54.20 time. Andrea Bardales and Sarah Haas helped Loyola secure its third-place finish by notching 63rd and 77th places for times of 25:26.55 and 27:57.85, respectively.

In the 137-man 5-kilometer run, junior Jace Luckoski became the first Loyola runner to end the race, earning 19th place with a time of 16:11.27. In 22nd place, junior Jacob Kennedy ended the meet with a 16:24.97 time. Aubrey Gibson made his Loyola debut with a 28th-place finish and a time of 16:42.52. Freshmen Adam Merkle and Cole Savoy rounded out the next group, earning 39th and 44th places for times of 17:19.05 and 17:29.75, respectively.

Elijah Reeves, Jacob Mullis, and Landon Dixon took 60th, 66th, and 69th with times of 18:07.72, 18:19.71, and 18:30.04. Carter Dural, Mason Mack, and Matthew Doland reached the finish line with times of 18:35.93, 18:56.05, and 19:09.96 for finishes of 70th, 77th, and 79th. Bryce Darensbourg, Chase Rogers, and Carter Scheuermann ended the day for the Wolf Pack, taking 88th, 96th, and 108th. The trio recorded times of 19:40.98, 20:10.75, and 21:07.58, respectively.

Women's 5K Results

23. Meera Hijazi, 21:13.52
30. Emma Meneses, 21:56.25
39. Sela Myers, 22:33.56
43. Caitlyn Summers, 22:54.20
63. Andrea Bardales, 25:26.55
77. Sarah Haas, 27:57.85

Men's 5K Results

19. Jace Luckoski, 16:11.27
22. Jacob Kennedy, 16:24.97
28. Aubrey Gibson, 16:42.52
39. Adam Merkle, 17:19.05
44. Cole Savoy, 17:29.75
60. Elijah Reeves, 18:07.72
66. Jacob Mullis, 18:19.71
69. Landon Dixon, 18:30.04
70. Carter Dural, 18:35.93
77. Mason Mack, 18:56.05
79. Matthew Doland, 19:09.96
88. Bryce Darensbourg, 19:40.98
96. Chase Rogers, 20:10.75
108. Carter Scheuermann, 21:07.58