CHICAGO – The Loyola University Chicago women's cross country team opens its 2025 season Friday, Aug. 29, at the North Park/CUC Early Invitational at Schiller Woods.

The meet marks the first of four regular-season races for the Ramblers before the Atlantic 10 Championships on Nov. 1 in Dayton, Ohio.

Both Loyola cross country programs were picked to win the A-10 Championships in the league's annual preseason coaches' poll, announced earlier this week. The Ramblers swept 13 of the 14 first-place votes in both the men's and women's polls.

Five-time A-10 Cross Country Coach of the Year Gavin Kennedy enters his fifth season leading the Ramblers. Kennedy brought in 18 newcomers during the offseason, including 11 transfers.

Key returners include senior Jason Clayton and graduate student Roisin Treacy. Clayton placed eighth at the 2023 A-10 Championships with an 8K time of 24:27.6 to earn all-conference honors before closing the season at the NCAA Midwest Regional, where he ran 31:40.9 in the 10K. Treacy helped Loyola secure the 2024 league title with a 6K personal best of 20:45.4 and went on to finish as the team's third scorer at the NCAA Midwest Regional in 20:57.0.

Following Friday's opener, Loyola will compete at the Notre Dame National Catholic Championships in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 19.