LOUISVILLE, Ky. (October 2, 2021) – Senior Kathleen Simms turned in the top 5k effort of her collegiate career to highlight a strong showing for the Loyola University Chicago cross country teams this morning at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic in Louisville, Ky.
 
Simms was terrific today at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park.  The Louisville native couldn't have scripted a better homecoming, running 16:47.6 to earn a seventh-place finish in a field of nearly 400 athletes.  Led by Simms, who shaved over 40 seconds off her previous personal best, Loyola landed eighth in the final team standings, totaling 289 points.
 
Senior Anneka Murrin came through just 18 seconds back of Simms, clocking a 5k personal-best of her own in 17:05.6 en route to placing 20^th overall. 
 
Graduate student Mimi Reimers turned in a time of 17:42.3, taking 59^th, while senior Claire Hengesbaugh snagged 76^th, also clocking the top 5k time of her career as she crossed in 17:55.3.  Senior Anya Brett capped off the Maroon & Gold's top five with a personal-best 18:25.6 to finish 142^nd.
 
Over in the men's 8k race, senior Chantz Visse continued the red-hot start to his cross country season, spearheading an attack that saw all five Ramblers who competed turn in personal-best showings as Loyola took 12^th in the team race with 412 points.  Out of Solon, Ohio, Visse improved upon his two-week-old personal best by just under 28 seconds, racing through in 24:09.8 to claim a 34^th-place finish.
 
Senior Blake Buysse was hot on Visse's heels, checking in 47^th at 24:21.9.  Fellow senior Sean O'Connell clocked a time of 24:42.5 to finish 77^th, while senior Nathan Kolbus was 111^th in 25:01.8.  Redshirt freshman Guillermo Ibarra rounded out the Rambler quintet in action at the meet, running 25:31.7 to place 173^rd.
 
Loyola will now turn its attention towards the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Ill. on Friday, October 15.  The meet with serve as a final tune-up for the Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship, set for Friday, October 29 in Normal, Ill.