April 20, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Loyola University Chicago track and field squad came out on top at the Dave Rankin Invitational at Purdue University over the weekend. Ben Reifenberg led the Ramblers as he finished first in the men's 5,000m run.

The freshman from Fort Wayne, Ind., posted a time of 15:02.42 to win the 5k out of 15 runners. The Rambler men dominated the 5k, as senior Sam Romanoski (15:16.02) and sophomore Matt McCabe (15:22.13) followed Reifenberg to place second and third, respectively. McCabe registered a new personal-best by 42 seconds. Freshman Anthony Wile finished sixth-overall with a time of 15:46.26.

Donte Prisby recorded a new personal-best of 22.49 for a second-place finish in the men's 200m. Edmund Blankson (23.02), Blake Lackage (23.09), Jimel Denham (23.65) and Sean Murray (23.79) rounded out the Rambler men finishing fifth, seventh, ninth and 10th, respectively.

Freshman Sam McClain garnered a sixth-place finish in the men's 1,500m. McClain shaved seven seconds off of his time to set a new personal-best of 4:11.90. Matt Wieczorek placed 14th with a time of 4:39.15.

The men's 4x100m relay team was efficient as they knocked seven-tenths of a second off of their best time to set a new personal-record of 42.65 for a third-place finish.

Christina James led the Rambler women as she recorded a time of 25.94 in the women's 200m. This marks the first time this season James has run the 200m under 27 seconds. Lauren Smith (26.87) and Rebecca Taylor (26.92) garnered 15th and 16th-place, respectively.

Junior Jessie Morgenthal and freshman Danielle Locascio turned in solid performances in the women's 3,000m steeplechase. Morgenthal placed fourth with a time of 11:50.34, while Locascio finished 10th with a time of 12:08.57. Running the event for the first time in their respective careers, the duo now rank first and third, respectively, in the Horizon League.

Freshman thrower Jessica Sheahan recorded a new personal-best for herself as she registered a mark of 99-08.00 (30.37m) in the women's hammer throw for a 14th-place finish.

The women's 4x100m relay team earned a fourth-place finish, as they shaved one-tenth of a second off of their best time to set a new personal-best of 49.46.

The Ramblers are back in action next weekend at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa and at the Concordia Invite in River Forest, Ill.