CHICAGO (July 22, 2021) – Four juniors from the Loyola University Chicago women's track & field team have been selected as All-Academic Team honorees by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced on Thursday.
 
Ilhame Tamrouti (Kampen, Netherlands/Almere College Kampen) highlighted the Maroon & Gold's quartet of honorees.  An international business major, Tamrouti earned USTFCCCA Honorable Mention All-America honors in the javelin after becoming just the second female field athlete in Loyola history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, a feat accomplished following a toss of 166-06 (50.74m) at the NCAA West Preliminary that broke her own school record.
 
The Rambler distance crew was well-represented, with Anneka Murrin (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth), Kathleen Simms (Louisville, Ky./duPont Manual/Furman), and Claire Hengesbaugh (St. Charles, Ill./Rosary) each earning recognition.
 
Murrin, who majors in exercise science, enjoyed a terrific junior campaign, capturing Missouri Valley Conference titles in both the mile run and 1,500m run.  She qualified for the regional meet in the 1,500m run and 5,000m runs, clocking a time of 16:24.30, the fourth fastest mark in program history, in the latter event at the Raleigh Relays before coming within 0.85 seconds of breaking former Rambler legend Gina Valgoi's school record in the 1,500m run, crossing in 4:19.85 at the Rick Erdmann Twilight.
 
A film & digital media production and multimedia journalism double major, Simms took home All-Valley honors in the 3,000m run at the MVC Indoor Championships ahead of doing the same in the 5,000m run at the outdoor league meet.  She punched her ticket to the NCAA West Preliminary at the Raleigh Relays, running 34:11.69 in the 10,000m run to move to third all-time at Loyola in the event.
 
After battling injuries throughout her sophomore year, Hengesbaugh, who double majors in environmental science & sustainability and conservation & restoration ecology, was terrific in 2020-21.  She earned a runner-up finish in the 3,000m run at the indoor league meet before securing an All-MVC nod in the 10,000m run at the MVC Outdoor Championships.  Hengesbaugh secured her spot on the regional stage by virtue of a scintillating run of 16:24.25 in the 5,000m run at the Rick Erdman Twilight that was the fastest time in the event by a Rambler this season and third fastest in Loyola history.
 
Along with the individual accolades, both Loyola's men's and women's teams were honored with the USTFCCCA's Team Academic Award for a night straight year.  The Rambler men closed the year with a 3.48 cumulative grade-point average, while Loyola's women's side posted a 3.44 mark.
 
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and have met either of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).