COLUMBIA, Mo. (March 20, 2021) – Junior Jana Rokitta was victorious in the high jump as the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams wrapped up a successful start to the outdoor season today at the Missouri Spring Opener in Columbia, Mo.
 
"What a great season opener and our first outdoor meet since 2019," Loyola head track & field coach Bob Thurnhoffer said.  "The weather held up pretty well and we got a ton of great work done.  As a staff, we've talked about how good we've felt heading into this outdoor season and this opener confirmed that."
 
Rokitta came inches away from taking down Marcia Faustin's 14-year-old program record in the high jump.  The Wuppertal, Germany product cleared a personal-best 5-07.00 (1.70m) en route to victory, Loyola's third win in the field over the past two days.
 
"Jana was superb in her first meet in over a full calendar year," Thurnhoffer added.  "We've altered her technique a little and it appears to be paying off.  That 5-07.00 clearance is a big step forward and it was good to have her get a few attempts at the school record of 5-08.75."
 
In the triple jump, sophomore Kevin Szczepaniec closed out a productive weekend, taking second in the triple jump with a top leap of 44-06.25 (13.57m) that moves him up to fifth all-time at Loyola in the event.
 
On the track, the Maroon & Gold was paced by the pairing of senior Denee' Lawrence and junior Adam Clayton in the 400m dash.  Lawrence turned in a personal-best 58.63 as she earned a fourth-place finish, while Clayton came through in 49.96 to finish third.  Sophomore Timothy Harris came in close behind Clayton in the men's section of the 400m dash, placing fifth in 50.26.  Senior Michael Papper impressed in the 100m dash, coming across in 11.10 to claim third.
 
Loyola will split squads next weekend when it sends athletes to the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C., March 25-28, and to a dual meet with MVC-rival Valparaiso on March 26 in Valparaiso, Ind.