DES MOINES, Iowa (May 14, 2022) – Sophomore Melissa Parrella became only the second Rambler in program history to win the Missouri Valley Conference women's long jump title, highlighting a successful second day of action for the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams today at the MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
Parrella, who entered the postseason as The Valley leader in the event, wasted little time in putting her name at the top of the leaderboard.  The Graz, Austria native connected on a leap of 19-04.25 (5.90m) on her third attempt that would hold up as the top mark of the evening, securing the league crown.  Parrella's effort sees her join Kiera Washpun (2017) as one of only two Ramblers to lay claim to the MVC long jump title.
 
Also competing in the field, senior Jana Rokitta capped off her time in Rogers Park by scoring for the Maroon & Gold, clearing 5-05.00 (1.65m) to take fifth in the high jump.
 
In preliminary action, four Ramblers advanced on to Sunday finals.  No race matched the excitement and show of determination put forth by sophomore Miguel Abaitua.  Running in heat two of the men's 800m run, Abaitua, out of Bilbao, Spain, used a tremendous final kick to chase down Northern Iowa's Drake Hanson, ultimately laying out across the finish line to win the heat with a time of 1:51.87 and automatically qualify for the event final.
 
Junior Cameron Arkesteyn and freshman Gabe Smit, both of whom will go after a Valley title in the 1,500m run on Sunday, each turned in personal bests competing alongside Abaitua.  Arkesteyn clocked in at 1:54.21, while Smit shaved just over a second off his previous top time, coming through at 1:53.44.
 
On the women's side of the 800m run, freshman Kelly Andrews wrapped up her debut campaign with a personal-best 2:19.63.
 
The Ramblers received multiple standout efforts in the sprinting events.  Sophomore Jayla Johnson punched her ticket to a second MVC final in 2022, posting a time of 14.28 en route to a runner-up heat finish in the 100m hurdles. 
 
Freshman Erin Connors continued her ascent up the program record board in the 400m hurdles, taking well over a second off her previous personal best as she powered through in 1:03.51, the sixth fastest time in Loyola history, to advance on.  Sophomore Madi McLain added a season-best showing, crossing at 1:05.82.  The Maroon & Gold will also be represented on the men's 400m hurdles final following a run of 55.87 from junior Timothy Harris that saw him secure a berth to Sunday.
 
In the men's 100m dash, freshman Cameron Woods spearheaded the attack with a scintillating showing of 10.70 that sees him move up to seventh all-time in Rambler annals.  Sophomore Jevan Terry put up a season-best 11.01, while freshman Isaac Eubanks turned in the top time of his collegiate career, finishing in 11.08.
 
Loyola closes out its stay at the MVC Outdoor Championships on Sunday, with events slated to get underway at 11:30 a.m.