MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Day One Results

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (May 11, 2018) – For the second time in as many seasons, senior Emma Hatch laid claim to the 10,000m run conference title to get the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams off to a fast start on the first day of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships today in Terre Haute, Ind.
 
Hatch battled temperatures that neared 90 degrees as she used an impressive final surge to capture her second straight conference crown in the event.  The Cleves, Ohio native came across in 36:06.30 to finish just under eight seconds in front of Jessica Allen of Missouri State, who checked in at 36:14.14. 
 
"Emma ran an outstanding race," Loyola assistant coach Alan Peterson commented.  "We had a game plan and she executed it perfectly, even though she had many opportunities to stray from it.  Back-to-back championships are had to come by and I couldn't be more excited and happy for her."
 
Three members of the Rambler roster booked spots in Sunday's finals in preliminary heats this evening.  Senior Cassie Bloch took fourth in her heat of the 1,5000m run, crossing in 4:48.03, to clinch an automatic berth to event final.  Sophomore Rita Maurais came in just behind her senior counterpart at 4:48.33 to earn one of two available at-large spots.
 
On the men's side of the 1,500m run, sophomore Demetri Panici battled his way into the first MVC final of his career.  Like Bloch, Panici finished fourth in his heat, coming through in 4:05.43, to cement his spot to Sunday's final.
 
Junior Natajah Simmons turned in a season-best performance in the 200m dash preliminaries, finishing in 24.69.  Freshman Tyler Elmore posted a time of 21.68 as he narrowly missed out on a earning a berth into the men's final of the event.
 
Action on day two of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships is slated to get underway at 9:30 a.m. (CT) on Saturday morning.  Live coverage on ESPN+ will begin at 3:45 p.m. (CT).