CHICAGO (April 29, 2021) – With the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships just over two weeks away, the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams will split squads for the final time this weekend, competing at the Illinois State Invitational in Normal, Ill. and the GVSU Meet in Allendale, Mich.
 
Action at the Redbird Invitational will begin at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday at the Redbird Track Complex.  Friday's slate will feature exclusively women's events, while the men will compete on Saturday.  Running events at the GVSU Meet are slated to begin at 6:25 p.m. (CT) on Friday evening at Grand Valley State University's Track & Field Stadium, with action scheduled to conclude on Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT).  Full schedules of events and live results links for both meets can be accessed to the right.
 
The Maroon & Gold enjoyed a successful stay at both the Drake Relays and Clark Wood Open last weekend, posting 10 new marks to the top 10 of the MVC outdoor leaderboards.
 
Leading the way for the pack was a terrific showing by Loyola's men's 10,000m run crew.  Competing at the Drake Relays, the junior trio of Nathan Kolbus (30:31.73), Chantz Visse (30:40.89), and Nick Chudzik (30:53.26) moved up to fourth through sixth, respectively, on The Valley chart in the event.  Fellow junior Blake Buysse also impressed in the distance events, running 14:35.47 to climb to sixth in the MVC in the 5,000m run.
 
In the mid-distance events, senior Demetri Panici clocked the sixth fastest 800m run time in the league this season of 1:51.43, while senior Derek Rink jumped to 10^th in the MVC in the 1,500m run, crossing in 3:51.45.  They went on to join forces with junior Eran Siboni, who ran 48.74 in the 400m dash to move to fifth in the conference, and freshman Miguel Abaitua to post of time of 9:49.00 in the distance medley relay that fell just over a second off a 30-year-old program record.  Sophomore Timothy Harris continued his ascendence in the 400m hurdles, finishing in a personal-best 54.35, the seventh fastest time in The Valley this season.
 
Over at the Clark Wood Invitational, junior Adam Clayton and freshman Jevan Terry each turned in standout showings in the 200m dash.  Clayton ran 21.42, the eighth fastest time in Rambler annals and fifth fastest in the MVC this season, en route to a runner-up finish, while Terry continued his breakout campaign, checking in sixth at 21.61 to move to 10^th all-time in program history and eighth in the conference.
 
Sophomore Isabel Velasco also shined, taking down a 12-year-old program record in the 100m hurdles as she posted a time of 14.73 in her collegiate debut in the event.
 
Loyola closes out the regular season portion of its outdoor schedule on Friday, May 7 at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind.