VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Loyola University Chicago track opened competition at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center with a runner-up finish, multiple top-three performances and a pair of qualifiers for Saturday's 800-meter finals.

In the men's 800-meter preliminaries, Miguel Abaitua and James Howell each clocked identical times of 1:52.85 to advance to the final. Howell placed third in his heat, while Abaitua earned a heat victory to secure his spot in Saturday's championship race.

Jake Phillips led the way in the men's 5,000 meters, taking second overall in 14:02.65. Hayden Healey added a ninth-place finish in 14:22.07, followed by Cael Mulholland in 12th at 14:34.23.

On the women's side, Eileen Seebon delivered a podium performance in the 5,000 meters, finishing third in a personal-best 16:50.23. Angy Salado Fernandez placed sixth in 17:05.70, Pippa Carcas finished 10th in 17:22.11 and Ali Gillooly crossed in 17th at 17:46.72.

The men's distance medley relay team of Izak Bibile, Howell, Abaitua and Colby Revord claimed second overall in 9:55.44. The mark ranks seventh-fastest in program history and stands as the 68th-fastest time in NCAA Division I this season.

Loyola's women's distance medley relay squad of Leah Klapatauskas, Natalya Kuchenbuch, Lindsey Kiehl and Maggie Powers placed sixth in 11:55.64, recording the eighth-fastest time in school history.

Competition resumes Saturday with finals action inside the Virginia Beach Sports Center.