MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Results Through Saturday

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (May 12, 2018) – Senior Kiera Washpun and sophomores Eric Burns and Riley DeMeulenaere all earned runner-up finishes to lead the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams on the second day of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
 
"Today was one of the more memorable MVC Outdoor Saturdays in years," Loyola head track & field coach Bob Thurnhoffer said.  "Kiera was in the fight of her life in the long jump final and came in a close second overall in one of the most competitive finals at the meet.  Shortly after, we saw some jaw-dropping performances out of our 400m dash guys.  Leron (Norton) and Sam (Urben) didn't make the final but ran well.  Michael (Edwards) and Elijah (Olige) did get in and ran some great personal bests to get there.  It was a huge step forward for our sprints squad and that 4x400m relay is ready to do some special things.  Eric competed very well and got nipped in the end, finishing a close second place in the long jump final.  He's made some tremendous progress and is really growing into a championship-level performer.  Our men's 800m runners were gluttons for glory as we ate up three spots in the final.  Lastly, Riley has truly ascended.  He's developed into a premier MVC steeplechaser.  It is so cool to see him go from where he was last year to an MVC runner-up.  Tomorrow will be a day to remember."
 
Both Washpun and Burns narrowly missed out on taking home conference titles on their respective sides of the long jump.  Washpun, out of Iowa City, Iowa, closed her collegiate career with a gutsy showing, posting a top leap of 19-02.50 (5.85m) as she finished behind only Amanda McClain of Illinois State (19-06.00; 5.94m).  Burns, a native of New Carlisle, Ind., matched his finish from the indoor league meet with a jump of 24-02.50 (7.38m), placing just an inch back of Indiana State's Scott Schreiber (24-03.50; 7.40m). 
 
DeMeulenaere closed out the evening with a breakout performance in the 3,000m steeplechase final.  The Brookfield, Wis. product used a final surge to come through at 9:09.59 en route to the first podium finish of his collegiate career. 
 
"What a performance that was to cap off a great 2018 track season for Riley," Loyola assistant coach Mircea Bogdan commented.  "He was just outstanding.  We will see more of him in the coming years as he is establishing himself as a great steeplechaser, not just in the conference, but in the NCAA as well."
 
The Rambler men turned in a dominant showing in the 800m run preliminaries, advancing all three of their entries into Sunday's final.  Junior Kevin White (1:52.35) and sophomore Demetri Panici (1:52.42) came in first and second, respectively, in the second heat of the event before redshirt senior Nicholas Prajka ran a personal-best of 1:51.76 to take second in the event's final heat to advance on.
 
"The 800m run preliminaries could not have gone better for us," Bogdan continued.  "All three guys executed perfectly and they showed great strength and form heading into tomorrow's final.  I'm proud of them all and how well they are representing our program.  It will be a fun final to watch."
 
Loyola will send a pair of athletes through to the men's 400m dash finals.  Sophomore Michael Edwards turned in a time of 47.68, the fifth fastest mark in school history, as he automatically advanced, while junior Elijah Olige posted a personal best of his own, checking in at 48.23, to claim an at-large berth.  The Maroon & Gold also received season-best performances out of senior Samuel Urben (48.27) and junior Leron Norton (48.60), both of who are expected to see action in Sunday's 4x400m relay final.
 
The final day of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships is scheduled to get underway at 10:30 a.m. (CT) on Sunday morning.  ESPN+ will provide live coverage beginning at 11:50 a.m. (CT).