CHICAGO (March 30, 2021) – Coming off back-to-back impressive weekends to open its outdoor slate, the Loyola University Chicago women's track & field team has garnered its highest ranking in program history following the release of the first NCAA Division I Outdoor Rankings Index by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
The Ramblers are the top-ranked Missouri Valley Conference institution in the season's initial poll, checking in at 59^th overall.  They are joined in the top 100 by fellow Valley foe Southern Illinois, which landed 75^th.
 
Five of Loyola's six scored marks in this week's poll reside in the top 10 on the NCAA West Region leaderboard, four of which were achieved at this past weekend's Raleigh Relays.
 
Leading the way for the Maroon & Gold in The Tar Heel State was junior Kathleen Simms, who climbed to third all-time in program history in the 10,000m run, clocking a time of 34:11.69 that leads the MVC and ranks second overall in the NCAA West Region.  Senior Mimi Reimers wasn't far off Simms' pace, coming through in 35:05.87 to move to fourth on the regional leaderboard.
 
Loyola also received a big showing out of its women's 5,000m run duo of juniors Anneka Murrin and Claire Hengesbaugh.  Murrin, who was just 11 days removed from competing at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, ran a Valley-best 16:24.30 in her debut in the event, the third fastest time in Rambler annals.  Hengesbaugh was less than two seconds behind her, racing across in 16:26.29 to move up into the fourth spot on the program's all-time record board in the event.  Murrin and Hengesbaugh currently sit third and fifth, respectively, on the NCAA West Region's 5,000m run chart.
 
Junior Ilhame Tamrouti got the outdoor campaign off to a great start for the Ramblers back on March 19 at the Missouri Spring Opener in Columbia, Mo.  Tamrouti shattered her own school record in the javelin, unleashing a toss of 165-00 (50.30m) en route to victory.  She leads The Valley in the event and resides ninth regionally.

Fellow junior Jana Rokitta also impressed during Loyola's stay in The Show-Me State.  Rokitta cleared a personal-best 5-07.00 (1.70m) in the high jump, a mark that ranks third in the MVC and 39th in the NCAA West Region.
 
Loyola is back in action on Friday, April 2 at the Redbird Invitational in Normal, Ill.