As the fresh semester shows itself to Loyola’s Cross Country teams and the summer heat subsides, one thing is apparent: The dog days of summer have nearly concluded.
After months of vigorous workouts and endless treks through the city, both the men’s and women’s teams are prepared to defend their 2004 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship.
“Well, the heat has been pretty rough,” said Tyler Kaufman, marketing freshman, “but we practice at 5 a.m., so it’s not too hot.”
Despite New Orleans’ image in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Kaufman said coming to Loyola was an easy choice.
“Loyola was the perfect choice for me, both academically and for cross country,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman joins a men’s team that hasn’t suited up in nearly two years, when Loyola took the GCAC championship and qualified for nationals.
The senior squad is led by history junior Richard Bouckaert. In 2004 Bouckaert placed first in GCAC championships in Clinton, Miss. He ran the 8-km. race in 28 minutes and 39 seconds. Bouckaert improved that time by nearly a minute to finish in 10th place in the NAIA Regionals and qualified for Nationals in Louisville, Ky. The women’s team also has the added weight of expectations – two years ago, they won the GCAC championship and ran all the way to nationals.
Leading the women’s squad is communications sophomore Mary Erin Imwall. In 2004 Imwall placed 2th in the GCAC Championships behind teammate Natalie Sargent. Her 5k race concluded in 20:36, just four seconds off Sargent. Imwall improved her time by 51 seconds in the regionals for a 7th place finish and was the lone Lady ‘Pack participant in Nationals.
The Bouckaert and Imwall duo both placed in the top 20 in the Tulane Invitational and the LSU meet.
Loyola’s first race will be the University of South Alabama Meet scheduled Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. in Mobile, Ala.
Due to the cancellation of the season, all fall sports will have an additional NAIA eligible season.
Chad Bower can be reached at [email protected].
Michael Nissman contributed to this report.
