Nov. 14, 2005

CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago men's cross country has earned its first-ever berth to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the NCAA Men's and Women's Track & Field Committee announced on Nov. 13 in Indianapolis. The meet, hosted by Indiana State, will take place at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.

The Ramblers gained one of the 13 at-large spots for the national championship meet based on their fifth-place finish at last weekend's NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. The top two teams in each of the nine regions automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships with Oklahoma State and Iowa taking the two spots in the Midwest Region.

Junior Sam Romanoski (Lake Zurich, Ill.) comes in as Loyola's top runner after earning All-Horizon League First Team honors after finishing second at the League Championships on Oct. 29. He placed 16th at the NCAA Midwest Region to earn all-region honors. Romanoski has finished first on the Ramblers in three of the last four meets he has competed in.

"I am so proud of our guys," LU head coach Marc Burns said. "This is a veteran team that has been dreaming of competing at the NCAA Championships since they were freshmen."

In past years, Loyola has sent individuals to the NCAA meet with senior Robert Wade (Portlaw, Ireland) finishing 142nd during the 2002 season. Jim Westphal was the last LU runner to earn All-America status thanks to his 30th-place finish at the 1991 NCAA finals. Former Rambler great Tom O'Hara won the program's lone national championship as an individual in 1963, while Bob O'Connor placed sixth in the 1968 NCAA meet to capture All-America honors. Eddie Slowikowski finished 31st at the 1989 NCAA Championships to capture All-America honors.

"There have been many teams that have come close to going to the big dance but came up short," added Burns. "This one goes out to all of our alumni that have supported us over the years and given their best while competing for the Ramblers."

Below is a list of the following men's teams who will compete at the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championships:

Alabama 
American Arizona
Arizona State 
Arkansas
Brigham Young
Butler
Colorado
Dartmouth
Eastern Michigan
Florida
Florida State
Georgetown
Indiana
Iona
Iowa
Kansas
Loyola
Minnesota
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Portland
Stanford
Tennessee
Texas
Texas-El Paso
Virginia
Washington
William and Mary
Wisconsin