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**