Illinois State Invitational Final Results

NORMAL, Ill. (September 14, 2018) – Redshirt senior Lindsey Brewis opened her 2018 season in style, claiming individual medalist honors to lead the Loyola University Chicago cross country teams this evening at the Illinois State Invitational in Normal, Ill.
 
Bolstered by Brewis' showing, Loyola's women's side earned a runner-up finish with 50 points, finishing behind only Missouri (20).  The Rambler men accumulated 98 points to take fifth as host Illinois State (98) claimed the men's team crown.
 
Brewis, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, was sensational in the 5k race at the Weibring Golf Course.  The Dearborn, Mich. product rolled to victory, crossing in 17:27.6, as she defeated her next closest competitor, Reilly Revord of Missouri, by just under 32 seconds.
 
Sophomore Mimi Reimers, also making her season debut, joined Brewis in the top 10, taking ninth with a time of 18:23.0.  Junior Rita Maurais (12^th, 18:53.3) and the freshman duo of Claire Hengesbaugh (13^th, 18:55.0) and Anya Brett (15^th, 19:00.6) rounded out the top five for the Maroon & Gold.
 
"Lindsey ran a smart race to start the year," Loyola assistant coach Alan Peterson commented.  "She's definitely picking up right where she left off in track and we're excited to keep progressing.  As a whole, we took a step forward from where we were last week.  I'm proud of the girls and how they competed in adverse conditions.  We'll keep putting in the work and turn our attention to the Lakefront Invitational in two weeks."
 
For the second time in as many weeks, junior Derek Rink paced the attack for the Maroon & Gold in the men's 8k race.  Out of Appleton, Wis., Rink earned a 12^th-place finish following a run of 25:41.7.  Freshman Akhil Ghosh impressed in his first collegiate race, checking in at 26:01.2 to come in 16^th overall.
 
Sophomore Kenny Wallace (22^nd, 26:15.6) and the pairing of freshmen Stephen Pipilas (23^rd, 26.16.8) and Chantz Visse (25^th, 26:17.5) completed the top five for Loyola on the men's side.
 
"Derek is becoming a very solid runner for us and I'm happy to see him doing so well," Loyola assistant coach Mircea Bogdan said.  "We have a lot of positives to take from today.  Our freshmen, led by Akhil, performed at a high level.  As a team, we still have some more work to do."
 
Loyola will be idle next weekend before it hosts the Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Saturday, September 29 at Montrose Beach in Chicago, Ill.