At its home course on the Lakefront Saturday, Loyola’s men’s cross-country team captured the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Title for the third year in a row. The women’s team finished second to Xavier.
Mike Gulotta, history junior, was the top finisher on the men’s side for the Wolfpack. He ran a time of 28 minutes, 35.19 seconds on the eight-kilometer course, good for third place.
“It was great. Three in a row is quite an accomplishment. I’m proud of the team for staying focused,” Gulotta said.
Loyola’s next three runners captured the sixth, seventh, and eight places. Kevin Fitzwilliam, communications senior, was second on the team with the time of 30:20.61, Management freshman Nick Bousquet was next, running 30:23.91. Music and computer information systems senior Joe Kutner was the last runner for the ‘Pack in the top ten with a time of 30:35.39.
Gulotta believes that other top ten finished were helped by their close finishes.
“Kevin, Nick, and Joe were right near each other, and that was helpful for them,” he said. “It was difficult for me because I could only pass one guy.”
Rounding out the scorers, Andrew Lecocq-Fell, international business sophomore, ran 31:48.61 for 12th place, and communications freshman T.J. Ortenzi ran 33:26.60 for 16th place.
Their contribution in their first year on the team, along with Bosquet, was essential for Loyola to repeat.
“Andrew pretty much locked things up,” Gulotta said. “T. J., Nick, and Andrew stayed focussed mentally and deserves credit for sticking with it the way they have.”
All scorers for Loyola earned All-GCAC honors. Loyola Head Coach Paul Garvey was named GCAC Coach of the Year.
The Loyola women finished second with 59 total points, 24 points behind Xavier. Loyola won the title last year.
Kim Kujanek, general studies freshman, was positive about her team’s effort.
“Everyone gave their best, but I was disappointed we didn’t win,” Kujanek said. “We showed we’re bouncing back from losing people.”
The Wolfpack’s top finisher Natalie Sargent, general studies sophomore, recorded a time of 21:09.03 on the five-kilometer course, earning third place.
Kujanek placed eighth with a time of 21:58.29, and Sara Miles St. Clair, broadcasting freshman, finished 10th with a time of 22:05.32. The ‘Pack’s top-ten runners were all named to the All-GCAC Team.
History junior Catherine Baggett’s time of 22:40.29 was sixteenth, and Beth Robinson, French junior, had a time of 25:02.47 for 27th place.
“It was the first time we had a full team, so I think we did incredibly well,” Kujanek said.
Xavier Head Coach Steve Kalbaugh was named GCAC Coach of the Year on the women’s side.
The two teams will host the regional championships on Nov. 2 for a shot at nationals, scheduled for Nov. 16 in Louisville, Ky.
“The goal all year has been to get to nationals and do well there,” Gulotta said. “We know it’s not automatic. We’re working harder than ever to get there.”
“I think we have a shot at regionals,” Kujanek said of the women. “We are peaking at the right time. We hope at least three of us can qualify for nationals.”
