PEORIA, Ill. (October 14, 2022) – Led by an impressive one-two finish from graduate students Ryan Martins and Chris Devaney, the Loyola University Chicago men's cross country team took home the team championship at the Bradley Pink Classic this afternoon in Peoria, Ill.
 
Spurred on by three athletes in the top 20, the Ramblers put up 82 points to edge out former Missouri Valley Conference rival Wichita State (84 points) for the team crown.  In the final women's team standings, Loyola checked in seventh with 221 points. 
 
Martins and Devaney shined today at the Newman Golf Course.  Out of Green Brook, N.J., Martins, who earned a runner-up finish at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, took home medalist honors following a run of 23:27.8, a 43-second improvement from the previous top 8k time of his collegiate career.  As he was two weeks ago at Montrose Harbor, Devaney, a product of New Plymouth, New Zealand, was hot on his heels, turning in a personal best of his own at 23:31.7 to place second overall.
 
Fellow graduate student Blake Buysse continued the Ramblers' run of personal bests on the afternoon, crossing in 23:58.2 to secure 19^th.  Freshman Jason Clayton narrowly missed out on a spot in the top 25, taking 26^th in 24:03.4.  Providing the exclamation point to Loyola's top five was junior Miguel Abaitua, who shaved over a minute off his 8k personal best, coming through at 24:20.0 to place 48^th.
 
For the second time in as many outings, sophomore Nora Wollen used a personal-best showing to lead Loyola in the women's 6k red race.  The Oak Park, Ill. native took over a minute off her previous top 6k effort set at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, placing 12^th overall after racing through in 20:36.1.
 
The pairing of graduate students Kathleen Simms and Claire Hengesbaugh was separated by just over 30 seconds.  Simms checked in 30^th at 20:58.9, while Hengesbaugh followed in 21:31.9 to claim 50^th.
 
Freshman Lily Mataway continued the strong start to her debut season in Rogers Park, running 21:43.9 to land 66^th.  Rounding out the Loyola top five was junior Fran Hendrickson, who took 73^rd after clocking a near two-minute personal best of 21:47.8.
 
The Maroon & Gold was also represented in the afternoon's opening white races.  Freshman Woody Jerome, who ran unattached, impressed in the men's 8k, posting a time of 24:59.8 that saw him place third overall.  Two Ramblers cracked the top 15 in the women's 6k, with junior Ruth Heery (11^th; 22:35.2) and sophomore Grace Kuhn (13^th; 22:37.2) pacing the attack.
 
With the regular season portion of its schedule now complete, Loyola will begin preparations for its first Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships.  The 2022 edition of the league meet is slated for Saturday, October 29 in Mechanicsville, Va.