The Wolf Pack cross country team performed significantly better at the LSU Invitational with one newly transferred runner setting a new Loyola record.
General studies junior Annie Hills broke the Loyola 6K record in her first meet as a Loyola runner at the LSU Invitational, which included six NCAA Division I teams. Hills, who transferred from NCAA Division III Simpson College, finished ahead of 22 Division I competitors.
Hills was named the Southern States Athletic Conference Runner of the Week for that record, in which she finished 26 out of 60 runners clocking in at 24:08.5.
Many Wolf Pack cross country runners were able to achieve new ‘besters’, which means their previous times were improved or were able to improve on Loyola ́s record.
Biology sophomore Denise Powell finished in thirty-fifth place with a time of 25:18.2, the third best time in Loyola history. Managment junior Elizabeth Gienger was able to set a personal best with a time of 25:21.6. Grienger’s time marks the forth-best 6K time in Pack history.
Head Cross Country Coach Andy Canegitta said, “We don’t normally run a 6K race, but the ladies ran an awesome race.”
Canegitta said both teams improved from the Wolf Pack Invitational.
According to Hills, running the 6K is the norm for women at her previous school, as compared to the 5K at Loyola. Until she went to practice on Sept. 24, Hills had no idea that she had broken the previous record set by Catherine Baggett at the 2001 LSU Invitational by 39 seconds. This would be Hills ́ first time receiving a conference-level accolade,
besides accolades from Simpson College such as All-Academic and a Freshman New-Comer of the Year award.
Hills did not compete at the Wolf Pack Invitational season starter because of delays by the NAIA to compete for Loyola. Hills said she had been studying abroad while at Simpson College and claims that her summer abroad might have causedthedelay.
Many runners at the Wolf Pack Invitational were generally unhappy with their results due to delays in training and a poor running field due to Hurricane Isaac, according to Canegitta.
The Wolf Pack cross country team will compete next on Saturday, October 13 at the Choctaw Open in Clinton, Miss.
Santiago Caicedo can be reached at [email protected]. Follow Caicedo on Twitter @scaicedo_maroon.
