CHICAGO – Loyola University Chicago cross country is set to host the 46th Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational this Friday (Oct. 3) at Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course on Chicago's beautiful lakeshore.
The Tom Cooney Championship races begin with the women's 6K at 9 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 9:40 a.m. The open division races will feature the women's 6K at 10:20 a.m. and the men's 8K at 11 a.m. Live results will be available during and after the meet.
Spectator admission is $10 per person. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online or by calling the Loyola Ticket Office at (773) 508-9653. Please note that on-site ticket sales will be credit card only—no cash will be accepted. Students from participating schools get in free with a valid student ID.
Competing schools include Boston College, Florida State, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville, Loyola Chicago, Minnesota, North Carolina, NC State, Santa Clara, Toledo, Washington, Wisconsin, Providence, Northwestern and Cal Poly.
On the women's side, eight teams are nationally ranked: No. 30 Boston College, No. 29 Minnesota, No. 26 Northwestern, No. 21 Washington, No. 18 North Carolina, No. 11 Washington, No. 7 Providence, and No. 2 NC State. Additionally, Gonzaga received votes in the latest NCAA DI Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll. On the men's side, No. 24 Washington, No. 16 North Carolina, and No. 7 Wisconsin are ranked as well.
The Rambler men enter the meet ranked sixth in the Midwest Region of the NCAA DI Men's Cross Country Regional Rankings.
The Loyola Lakefront Invitational began in the 1970s before being renamed the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in honor of former Rambler student-athlete Sean Earl. Earl ran in the late 1990s before being diagnosed with testicular cancer and passing in 2000. Former Loyola track & field head coach Marc Burns renamed the Lakefront Invitational to the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in the fall of 2000. A race already rich with a 28-year history had a new purpose — one to honor a former Rambler. The event was originally founded by Loyola alum and former coach Tom Cooney, who continues to serve as Meet Technical Manager today.
Last time out, Loyola's men's cross country team finished second and the women's team placed fourth at the National Catholic Invitational in South Bend. Hayden Healey led the way for the men with a sixth-place time of 24:14.6, earning Atlantic 10 Men's Cross Country Performer of the Week honors, while teammates Nate Boutin and Woody Jerome also secured top-10 finishes. On the women's side, Bárbara Neiva paced the Ramblers in 17:55.6, with strong support from Angy Salado Fernandez and Priscilla Ravera, as several runners recorded personal bests.
Following Friday, Loyola Chicago will compete at the Missouri Pre National Invite Oct. 18.
