AMES, Iowa (February 11, 2022) – The senior trio of Kathleen Simms, Claire Hengesbaugh, and Blake Buysse all ascended into the top 10 in program history in the 5,000m run as the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams opened up their weekend at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa today.
 
Simms continued her red-hot start to 2022 in the second section of the 5,000m run.  The Louisville, Ky. native raced across in 16:20.22, the third fastest time in the event in program history, en route to a 12^th-place finish.  Hot on Simms' heels on the final leaderboard was Hengesbaugh, who turned in a 40-second personal best of 16:38.96 (14^th) to place 14^th and move up to sixth in Rambler annals.
 
Three Ramblers clocked career-best times on the men's side of the 5,000m run, led by Buysse.  Out of Plymouth, Minn., Buysse shaved 13 seconds off his previous personal best, finishing in 14:22.91 (15^th) to shoot up to fourth on the program's indoor record board in the event.  His time is the fastest by a Rambler in the event since 2017.  Senior Ian Cummings turned in a nine-second personal best of 14:45.52 (22^nd), while fellow senior Chantz Visse checked in at 14:51.38 (24^th).
 
Competing in the men's 3,000m run, the pairing of senior Sean O'Connell and graduate student Kenny Wallace paced the Rambler attack, each posting new personal bests.  O'Connell was the top Rambler on the final leaderboard, recording a time of 8:26.47 (35^th), with Wallace close behind at 8:28.28 (39^th).  Freshman Nora Wollen narrowly fell shy of a personal best of her own in the women's 3,000m run, battling across in 9:55.68 (23^rd).
 
The Maroon & Gold also had athletes in action at the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich. today.  Sophomore Fran Hendrickson turned in one of the top marks of the day by a Rambler in the women's mile run, where she finished in 5:06.42 (37^th), an 11-second personal best.
 
Freshmen Petra Cokaric and Erin Connors each took home a pair of new personal bests on the day in the sprinting events.  The duo opened their day in the 400m dash, as Connors led the way in 58.78 (32^nd), with Cokaric following closely in 58.86 (33^rd).  Both were back in the mix in the 200m dash, this time with Cokaric coming through first in 26.40 (49^th), while Connors ran 26.62 (53^rd).  
 
A week removed from moving into the top 10 in the 60m dash, freshman Cameron Woods highlighted the afternoon for the Ramblers in the preliminary round of the event, checking in at 6.97 (13^th), as part of an effort that saw junior Ayoub El-Ashmawi (7.19; 35^th) and freshman Isaac Eubanks (7.34; 37^th) post new personal bests.  El-Ashmawi wrapped up the night in sparkling fashion, unleashing a 200m dash personal-best 21.81 (11^th) to rocket up to sixth all-time at Loyola.  Woods also added a personal best in the event, posting a time of 22.63 (38^th).
 
In the field, senior Jana Rokitta matched the top indoor height of her career, clearing 5-06.50 (1.69m) to land fourth in the women's high jump.
 
Loyola wraps up competition at the Iowa State Classic on Saturday afternoon.