CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (February 26, 2021) – Senior Mimi Reimers earned a runner-up finish in the 5,000m run, while the men's distance medley relay took third overall as the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams opened competition at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships today in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
 
"It was a really stellar first day at the MVC Championships for the squad," Loyola head track & field track & field coach Bob Thurnhoffer said.  "It was so exciting to get back to this meet after battling through the pandemic over the last year.  I've been so proud of how our team has responded this year under extremely challenging conditions and we came here ready to go.  I loved the energy and competitiveness we showed today.  It'll surely carry us over the next few days."
 
Reimers earned All-MVC honors for a third consecutive year today inside the UNI Dome.  The Shaker Heights, Ohio native clocked a time of 17:17.93 in the 5,000m run, placing second overall to put eight points on the board for the Maroon & Gold in the team race.
 
"Mimi ran a strong race and was rewarded with her best conference 5,000m finish so far," Loyola associate head coach Alan Peterson commented.  "She's coming around at the right time and I can't wait to see what she'll do at the cross country conference meet next week."
 
Loyola's distance medley relay found itself on the podium for a third time in as many seasons.  The quartet of seniors Demetri Panici and Riley DeMeulenaere, junior Eran Siboni, and freshman Miguel Abaitua joined forces to come through in 10:07.50, taking third overall.
 
"We put all our efforts into defending the title and came up a little short," Loyola assistant coach Mircea Bogdan stated.  "The guys gave their best, and that was good enough for third.  Some pieces of the puzzle didn't quite connect for us coming into the meet, but that will only motivate us to do better next year."
 
In the men's 5,000m run, senior Wes Heal dazzled in his first appearance at the league indoor meet.  The Wayzata, Minn. product took fifth overall, crossing the finish line in 15:51.03.
 
"Wes simply race an amazing 5,000m race," Bogdan continued.  "What a way to come to your first and last MVC meet by capitalizing on this opportunity.  I'm so happy for him and he deserves this for all of his hard work."
 
Loyola's jumps crew enjoyed a big day in The Hawkeye State.  Leading the attack with freshman Melissa Parrella.  Out of Graz, Austria, Parrella impressed in her long jump debut, moving to fourth all-time in Loyola annals following a top leap of 18-05.75 (5.63m) that saw her secure a fifth-place finish.  Freshman Lovie Annafi narrowly missed out on a matching her season best in the event, reaching 17-02.00 (5.23m).  On the men's side of the event, sophomore Kevin Szczepaniec climbed to eighth all-time at Loyola, unleashing a personal-best leap of 22-02.50 (6.77m) to claim 12^th.
 
The duo of seniors Denee' Lawrence and Michael Papper paced Loyola in the 200m dash.  Lawrence fell just six one-hundredths of a second shy of moving on to Sunday's event final, running 25.42 to share 11^th place.  Papper capped off his indoor slate by taking 15^th in 23.15.
 
"We have a very young jumps squad that showed a ton of promise today," Thurnhoffer continued.  "Melissa led the way in her first long jump in maroon and gold, coming away with a lifetime personal best and finished a very close fifth in the MVC final.  Her future couldn't be brighter.  Lovie and Kevin showed a ton of progress today too and I'm excited to get them in the triple jump tomorrow.  Denee' narrowly missed out on the 200m final, but ran an incredible race."
 
Loyola is back in action at the MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, with the men's sessions slated to begin at 9:30 a.m.  Live coverage on The Valley on ESPN is slated to get underway at 4:45 p.m.