For about 20 minutes after the race Saturday morning, history junior Mike Gulotta didn’t know whether or not his teammates would travel with him to the National NAIA Cross-Country Championships in Kenosha, Wis.
Gulotta knew his third-place finish earned him the chance to compete once again, but wasn’t sure if the men’s team would qualify.
“It was really nerve-wracking,” Gulotta said. “I didn’t want to go without my teammates like last year.”
When officials finished tallying the votes, the team’s strong performance resulted in a tie at 41 points with Xavier University. According to NAIA rules, Loyola and Xavier shared the Region XIII championship and both teams qualified to compete in the national championships on Nov. 16.
Gulotta led the Wolfpack with a time of 27:56. Kevin Fitzwilliam, communications senior, was tenth in 29:47. Management freshman Nick Bousquet ran 29:56 for an twelfth place finish.
Rounding out the scorers, Joe Kutner, music and computer information systems senior, finished fourteenth with a time of 30:13. Communications freshman T.J. Ortenzi finished the men’s scoring with a twenty-second place finish in 31:33.
The team accomplished its goal of the season by winning the regional championship, Gulotta said.
Loyola coach and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Coach of the Year Paul Garvey said the team ran well, especially against a team such as Xavier that has five runners on scholarship.
“Considering the competition, and the fact that it was a regional meet with teams from other parts of the U.S. and different resources, we ran very well,” Garvey said.
He said he hopes the team will run well at nationals, despite competing against bigger, more accomplished programs.
Gulotta said teams from the South don’t usually command the same attention as teams from other parts of the country, and that Loyola wants to represent the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference well.
“We want to make a good showing and show people why we won regionals,” he said.
Two Wolfpack runners will return home for the race. Bousquet and Kutner are both from Wisconsin and are excited about running on their home turf.
Women close in on Xavier
The women’s team finished a strong second behind Xavier, improving its team score nearly 15 points since the GCAC championships two weeks ago. Loyola was just ten points back with 58 points to Xavier’s 48.
Natalie Sargent, general studies sophomore, was the top runner for the Wolfpack, in second place with a time of 20:19. Her performance earned her the opportunity to compete in the national championships in Kenosha.
Sargent said she thought the hurricane and storm that forced Loyola to miss races ultimately helped the team because they were peaking at the end of the season, when it matters most.
“I hope to have my best time at nationals,” she said.
Kim Kujanek, general studies freshman, missed qualifying for nationals by one spot, with an eighth-place finish in 21:22. Broadcasting freshman Sara Miles St. Clair ran 21:41 for a thirteenth place finish. Catherine Baggett, history senior, was close behind in 21:46, good for fourteenth place. Beth Robinson, French junior, rounded out scoring for the women, finishing thirty-first in 23:25.
According to Garvey, the team improved significantly between the conference and regional meets and turned in good performances.
Baggett said injuries early in the year kept the women from fielding a full team until conference.
“I thought we did well considering only three girls were able to train consistently throughout the season,” she said. “I wish I could have run better personally, but I’m really proud of the girls and I know they’ll continue to get better.
Natalie Sargent to run at Nationals.
