VALPARAISO, Ind. (November 2, 2019) – Led by a breakout performance from sophomore Anneka Murrin, the Loyola University Chicago women's cross country team turned in a dominant showing to win its first Missouri Valley Conference title in program history today at the MVC Cross Country Championship in Valparaiso, Ind.
 
The Rambler women, who claimed their first conference title since winning the Horizon League crown in 2012, totaled an MVC-record 17 points to easily outdistance two-time defending Valley champion Bradley (64) for the team crown.  Loyola's total bested the previous low score for a league champion, set by Missouri State in 2003, by 12 points.  By virtue of its finish, Loyola assistant coach Alan Peterson was named the MVC Women's Coach of the Year.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of how the team prepared and came ready for this race," Peterson commented.  "They took control from the start and never left it in doubt.  It was a truly unbelievable performance from them."
 
Murrin was tremendous today in the women's 5k race at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.  The Yarmouth, Maine native used a time of 17:59.97 to best junior Mimi Reimers, who claimed a runner-up finish in 18:08.20, for individual medalist honors.  Murrin's victory marks the third time in as many years that a Rambler has taken home the women's individual league title following former Rambler great Lindsey Brewis' back-to-back first-place finishes in 2017 and 2018.
 
The sophomore pairing of Tarynn Cullings (18:15.90) and Kathleen Simms (18:19.89) checked in third and fourth, respectively.  Graduate student Sophia Noto placed seventh in 18:27.13 as Loyola's top five, all of who earned First Team All-MVC honors, were separated by a spread of just under 28 seconds.
 
In the men's 8k race, Loyola accumulated 98 points to land fourth overall, a four-spot improvement from the 2018 edition of the conference meet.  Pacing the attack was senior Riley DeMeulenaere.  Fresh off a personal-best effort at the Bradley Pink Classic, the Brookfield, Wis. product battled his way to a 10^th-place finish, crossing in 25:24.38, en route to collecting First Team All-Valley accolades.
 
Two members of Loyola's sophomore class earned spots in the top 20.  Ian Cummings took 19^th in 25:48.83, while Chantz Visse was close behind in 20^th at 25:49.68.  The duo of redshirt senior Kevin White and senior Derek Rink, both making their final appearances at the conference meet, rounded out the top five for the Ramblers.  White came through in 26:00.92 to secure 24^th, with Rink less than two seconds back at 26:02.28 in 25^th.
 
"I thought the team competed hard today and gave all they had," Loyola assistant coach Mircea Bogdan said.  "We came up a little short of our goal, which was to get on the podium.  This team still showed great improvement from last season.  I am particularly happy for Riley, Ian, and Chantz.  Now we'll turn our attention to regionals, where we hope to improve on our finish from last season."
 
Loyola is back in action on Friday, November 15 at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Stillwater, Okla.