HATTIESBURG, Miss. - In a field packed with NCAA Division I competition, the Loyola University New Orleans track and field team garnered seven top-ten finishes at the Southern Miss Invitational in Hattiesburg.
Freshman Raven Lewis led the way for the Wolfpack, earning three top-ten finishes. Lewis placed eighth in the triple jump (10.01 meters), setting a Loyola University record in that event. Lewis also went on to take ninth in the 400-meter dash (1:00.36) and tenth in the 200-meter dash, which had a field of 31 competitors. In all, Lewis placed better than 18 NCAA Division I athletes in her five events. Vanessa Righeimer earned a top-ten finish in the 5000-meter run (sixth place, 20:20.96), while three members of the men's team got top-ten finishes in the 5000-meter. Abraham Thacker was sixth (18:06.42), Kenny Tsao was seventh (18:06.89) and Galen Westerfield was tenth (19:33.11). "It was a great start to our outdoor season," said Loyola head coach Andy Canegitta, "I was pleased with our overall effort and the number of personal bests was encouraging as well." Daniel Afanador ran the 200-meter dash in 22.97 seconds, a personal best, good for 16th in that event. Tsao and Westerfield each set personal records in the 1500-meter run as well. The team will next head to Lafayette, La. on Saturday, March 19 to take part in the Louisiana Classics. Complete Loyola results were as follows: Women 1500m Vanessa Righeimer - placed 13th time - 5:25 Elizabeth Gienger - place 21th time - 5:40 Men 1500m Kenny Tsao - 11th - 4:30 personal best (2010 - 4:33) Abraham Thacker 19th - 4:48 Galen Westerfield - 20th - 4:59 personal best (2010 - 5:09) Women 400m Raven Lewis - 9th - 1:00.04 Jenna Knoblach - 20th - 1:07 Men 400m Neal Outland - 20th - 53.82 Women 100m Sarah Tortorich - 16th - 13.04 Cristina Calderon - 25th - 13.73 Men 100m Daniel Afanador - 14th - 11.85 Andrew Ho - 15th - 11.90 Women 800m Jenna Knoblach - 18th - 2:41 Elizabeth Gienger - 23rd - 2:54 Men 800m Kenny Tsao - 11th - 2:11 Galen Westerfield - 18th - 2:24 Abraham Thacker - 19th - 2:24 Women 200m Raven Lewis - 10th - 26.58 Sarah Tortorich - 13th - 26.94 Cristina Calderon - 24th - 28.76 Men 200m Daniel Afanador - 16th - 22.97 personal best (2010 - 23.10) Andrew Ho - 26th - 24.04 Women 5000m Vanessa Righeimer - 6th - 20:20 Men 5000m Abraham Thacker - 6th - 18:06.42 Kenny Tsao - 7th - 18:06.89 Galen Westerfield - 10th - 19:33 Women Long Jump Raven Lewis - 14th - 14ft Women Triple Jump Raven Lewis - 8th - 32ft-10 - **NEW SCHOOL RECORD**