NORMAL, Ill. (April 30, 2021) – The junior pairing of Sarah Olojo and Ilhame Tamrouti were both victorious as the Loyola University Chicago women's track and field team competed on the opening day of the Illinois State Invitational in Normal, Ill. today.
 
"Strong first day at the Illinois State Invitational," Loyola head track & field coach Bob Thurnhoffer said.  "The ladies showed up in a big way today.  Isabel (Velasco) looks like a prime contender with a big 14.25 run in the 100m hurdles.  Denee' (Lawrence) had a huge day, running personal bests in both of her events, while Sarah and Lovie (Annafi) are a lethal duo in the triple jump.  Ilhame continued her dominant season and Madi (McLain) is getting better each week.  Things are clicking into place at the right time.  We're looking forward to tomorrow!"
 
For the second time in as many outings, Olojo topped the leaderboard in the triple jump.  The Chicago, Ill. product unleashed a top leap of 39-01.00 (11.91m) to earn a second consecutive first-place finish.  Freshman Lovie Annafi continued her climb up the program's all-time record board in the event, placing third with a jump of 38-02.25 (11.64m) that moves her to sixth in Rambler annals.
 
As has been the case for the majority of the outdoor season, Tamrouti was again dominant in the javelin.  The Kempen, Netherlands native posted a toss of 151-08 (46.23m) to best the field by over 12 feet en route to her fourth win of the year.  Fellow junior Jana Rokitta also turned in a strong effort in the field, clearing 5-04.50 (1.64m) to take fourth in the high jump.
 
On the track, senior Denee' Lawrence enjoyed a big afternoon in Central Illinois.  Out of Ramstein, Germany, Lawrence opened her day with a 100m dash personal-best 12.01 in a preliminary heat, before moving on to run a scintillating 24.31 in the 200m dash, placing fifth overall as she moved all the way up to third on Loyola's outdoor record board.
 
Sophomore Isabel Velasco shattered her week-old school record in the 100m hurdles, racing through in 14.25 in preliminary action.  Racing alongside Velasco was freshman Jayla Johnson, who came across in 14.95, the third fastest time in program history.  Competing in the 400m hurdles, freshman Madi McLain recorded a personal best of her own, ascending to 10^th all-time at Loyola after clocking a time of 1:05.97 to finish seventh overall.
 
Senior Mimi Reimers led the charge for the Maroon & Gold at the GVSU Meet in Allendale, Mich.  Reimers, a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, ran the seventh fastest 5,000m run time in program history, battling through in 16:28.67 to take eighth place.  Juniors Claire Hengesbaugh (12^th; 16:42.16) and Anya Brett (18^th; 17:09.96) joined Reimers in the top 20, with Brett also posting a new personal best.  In the 1,500m run, junior Anneka Murrin checked in third at 4:25.99.
 
On the men's side of the 5,000m run, junior Ian Cummings shaved nearly 10 seconds off his previous top time in the event, finishing in 14:54.15 to take 46^th.   Senior Riley DeMeulenaere placed fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase in 9:15.75, highlighting a showing that saw seniors Emmanuel Champagne (7^th; 9:22.02) and Miles Kanipe (10^th; 9:34.96) also earn top-10 finishes.  Competing in the 800m run, senior Demetri Panici finished eighth in 1:53.29, while fellow senior Kenny Wallace landed 15^th (3:56.95) in the 1,500m run.
 
Loyola's men's side will see action at the Illinois State Invitational on Saturday, while the Ramblers will also wrap up competition at the GVSU Meet.