IOWA CITY, Iowa (November 12, 2021) – Led by another standout performance from senior Anneka Murrin, the Loyola University Chicago cross country teams, who were each down one of their top runners, posted an impressive performance today at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Iowa City, Iowa.
 
Loyola's women's side totaled 347 points to finish 11^th overall in a field of 32 teams, placing in front of Kansas (12^th; 352 points) and host Iowa (14^th; 388 points).  The Rambler men checked in 15^th in the 28-team field with 439, besting Nebraska by 28 points en route to their aforementioned finish.
 
"Proud of both teams today," Loyola Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Gavin Kennedy commented.  "We had to make a tough decision this morning to compete without Kathleen (Simms) and Blake (Buysse).  Our athletes fought for each other and there is nothing more that we could have asked of them.  It was great to see Anneka secure All-Region honors and we look forward to her hopefully having the opportunity to move on to Tallahassee next week."
 
Murrin was sensational in the women's 6k race to open the day at the Ashton Cross Country Course.  Fresh off becoming the first female student-athlete in Missouri Valley Conference history to win three straight individual league titles, the Yarmouth, Maine native battled snow and wind to run 20:56.68 and claim an 11^th-place finish to earn United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region accolades.
 
Senior Claire Hengesbaugh came within eight second of surpassing her 6k personal best from the MVC Championship, crossing in 21:28.59 to place 36^th.  Graduate student Mimi Reimers was 78^th in 22:01.61, while senior Tarynn Cullings checked in at 22:28.46 to claim 110^th.  Fellow senior Olivia Orr flirted with a personal best of her own, finishing with 115^th at 22:31.52.
 
In the men's 10k race, Chantz Visse was the first Rambler to cross the finish line for the fourth time this season.  Out of Solon, Ohio, Visse, a First Team All-Valley selection, turned in the top 10k effort of his collegiate career, coming through in 31:37.3 finish 50^th overall. 
 
Freshman Gabe Smit made his regional debut, placing 74^th in 32:06.89.  Senior Nick Chudzik occupied the third spot for the Maroon & Gold, finishing 93^rd after running a 10k personal-best 32:24.89.  The senior pairing of Sean O'Connell (32:43.38) and Stephen Pipilas (32:48.20) rounded out the Ramblers' top five, claiming 108^th and 114^th, respectively.   
 
All eyes will now focus on Murrin as she awaits her postseason fate.  Murrin will hope to receive an at-large berth to the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, set for Saturday, November 20 in Tallahassee, Fla.  The full field for the national meet will be announced on Saturday, November 13 at 4 p.m. (CT) on NCAA.com.