Benedictine Invitational Results

LISLE, Ill. (April 7, 2018) – The Loyola University Chicago track & field teams battled unseasonably cold temperatures to win 12 event titles en route to sweeping the team championships at the Benedictine Invitational today in suburban Lisle, Ill.
 
"The meet started out at 26 degrees and got up to 34 so conditions continue to be less than ideal but we came out with a positive attitude and controlled what we could control," Loyola head track & field coach Bob Thurnhoffer commented.  "Overall, we made some great progress on the track, in the throwing ring and in the sandpit.  All we can do is keep working, staying focused and one of these weekends we'll get our opportunity to lay some big marks down."
 
Loyola got the day off to a flying start by claiming both the men's and women's 4x100m relay titles.  The tandem of junior Natajah Simmons, sophomore Denee' Lawrence, and freshmen Lauren Kroll and Molly Reighard clocked in at 47.91, before junior Leron Norton, sophomores Michael Edwards and Michael Papper, and freshman Tyler Elmore cruised to a victory in 42.50. 
 
Members of both 4x100m relay quartets also experienced success in individual events.  Elmore (11.07) and Lawrence (12.63) each picked up wins in the 100m dash, while Norton (22.82) edged out Papper (22.84) for first in the 200m dash.
 
A trio of sophomores earned victories in the middle distance and distance events.  In the 800m run, Laura Bestul came across in 2:19.48 as she held off Audrey Roberts of Northwestern by just six one-thousandths of a second for first overall.  Derek Rink checked in at 4:03.09 to win the 1,500m run, before Demetri Panici coasted to victory in the 3,000m run with a time of 8:51.78.
 
In the field, the pairing of sophomores Eric Burns and Mackenzie Arnold swept the long jump crowns.  Burns used a top leap of 22-00.75 (6.72m) to finish atop the men's leaderboard in the event, while Arnold narrowly finished in front of senior Kiera Washpun (17-04.00; 5.28m) with a jump of 17-06.00 (5.33m).  
 
The Ramblers capped off a big afternoon with two victories in the 4x400m relay.  Bestul joined forces with Kroll and freshmen Sidney Howland and Alex Johnston to roll to a first-place finish in 4:01.02, while Edwards, Elmore, junior Elijah Olige and freshman Gift Chinda notched a time of 3:24.44 to earn a victory of their own.
 
Loyola travels to Iowa City, Iowa next Saturday, April 14, for the Musco Twilight.