NOTRE DAME, Ind. (February 5, 2022) – Freshman Jason Clayton and senior Kathleen Simms both turned in sparkling performances to highlight a day that saw 15 Ramblers record new personal bests as the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams closed out a successful two-day stay at the Meyo Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind.
 
Making the first appearance of his collegiate career, Clayton was tremendous as part of a stacked field in the Ryan Shay 3,000m run.  The Melbourne, Australia native surged to a runner-up finish in 8:03.39, moving to third on Loyola's all-time indoor record board in the event.  Clayton's time, which unofficially leads the Missouri Valley Conference, is the fastest by a Rambler in the event in 32 years.
 
The senior pairing of Blake Buysse and Chantz Visse also starred alongside Clayton.  Buysse ascended to 10th all-time in Rambler annals following a run of 8:18.45 (13^th), while Visse posted a personal-best 8:28.32 (18^th).
 
Like Clayton, Simms impressed in the seeded section of the women's 3,000m run.  The Louisville, Ky. product clocked her second personal best in the event in as many outings, crossing in 9:29.66 to move up to second all-time at Loyola.  Simms' mark, a four-second improvement off her two-week-old previous top time, sits second in The Valley.
 
Competing in the opening section of the women's 3,000m run to begin the morning, five Ramblers clocked the top times of their respective careers.  Leading the charge was senior Claire Hengesbaugh, who rebounded from an early fall to finish fifth overall in 9:41.74.  Just five seconds behind was graduate student Mimi Reimers, who came through in 9:46.96 (13^th).  Graduate student Elizabeth Aho (9:58.72; 25^th), freshman Grace Kuhn (10:09.45; 31^st), and senior Anya Brett (10:10.22; 32^nd) also turned in new personal bests.
 
Senior Sean O'Connell spearheaded the attack for the Rambler men during the morning portion of the men's 3,000m run, running a personal-best 8:27.42 (10^th).
 
Fresh off clocking a 3,000m personal best on the same track just two weeks earlier, freshman Nora Wollen shaved more than 30 seconds off her previous top time in the mile run, finishing in 5:02.26 (19^th).  On the men's mile run, graduate student Kenny Wallace (4:16.52; 38^th) and the senior duo of Ian Cummings (4:17.28; 40^th) and Stephen Pipilas (4:19.87; 46^th) each posted the best times of their collegiate careers in the event.
 
Freshman Cameron Woods capped off a breakout weekend by advancing to final of the men's 60m dash.  Woods raced through in 6.95 during a semifinal-round heat to punch his ticket before falling just one one-hundredth of a second short of matching his personal best in the event, sprinting across in 6.93 to place sixth overall.
 
Junior Ayoub El-Ashmawi wrapped up a big two days of his own in the 400m dash, collecting his second personal best in as many races as he checked in at 48.94 (15^th).
 
Junior Kevin Szczepaniec carried the banner for the Maroon & Gold in the field, where he registered a top leap of 19-11.50 (6.08m) to take 21^st in the men's long jump.
 
Loyola is back in action next weekend, February 11-12, when it sends athletes to both the GVSU Big Meet and the Iowa State Classic.