IOWA CITY, Iowa – In their first event of the new year, four members of the Loyola University Chicago men's and women's track teams turned in first-place finishes at the Hawkeye Invitational on Saturday in Iowa City.
 
James Lawrence and Emma Watcke captured first place in the men's and women's indoor miles, respectively, while Samuel Field claimed victory in the men's 3,000 meters. Additionally, Cael Mulholland won his mile heat.
 
Teams competing included Loyola Chicago, Iowa, Bradley, Indian Hills, Iowa Central, Northern Iowa, Western Illinois, and Wisconsin.
 
In the men's mile, Lawrence clocked a time of 4:04.52—12.71 seconds faster than his previous best—to win a talent-packed race. His performance moved him to seventh all-time at Loyola for the indoor mile.
 
Nate Boutin also impressed, finishing fourth overall with a time of 4:07.86, shaving approximately three seconds off his personal best. Boutin's time earned him fourth place in his heat behind Lawrence.
 
Mulholland won his heat with a time of 4:15.43, narrowly missing a personal best, and finished ninth overall. Jake Phillips followed closely, taking second in the same heat and 10th overall with a time of 4:16.11.
 
Aidan Collins posted a personal-best time of 4:25.70, finishing eighth in his heat—16.53 seconds faster than his previous best. Kyle Knutson placed 12th in the same heat with a time of 4:35.74.
 
On the women's side, Watcke won the mile with a time of 4:47.02, beating Wisconsin's Fiona McLoughlin by more than two seconds.
 
Roisin Treacy set a personal record with a time of 4:51.45, improving her previous best by seven seconds. She placed sixth in her heat and overall, moving to eighth all-time at Loyola.
 
Ali Gillooly finished seventh in her heat with a time of 5:04.05, while Eileen Seebon was close behind in 10th at 5:05.72.
 
In another heat, Aiden Grasse finished second with a time of 5:11.92, and Priscilla Ravera took sixth in 5:25.02.
 
In the women's 800 meters, Alessandra Rodriguez led the Ramblers with a personal record time of 2:12.10, placing second in her heat and overall. Her time ranks seventh all-time at Loyola.
 
Jo Collins also set a personal record, finishing third in her heat and seventh overall with a time of 2:24.43.
 
In the men's 3,000 meters, Field raced to a first-place finish with a time of 8:09.41, making him eighth all-time at Loyola. Gabe Smit finished right behind him in second with a time of 8:09.56.
 
Izak Bibile turned in a solid performance with a time of 8:35.72, finishing ninth in his heat.
 
In the same heat, Woody Jerome set a personal best with a time of 8:37.23, finishing fifth. Fionn Harrington followed in seventh at 8:51.69. In another heat, Gabe Ryan finished fourth with a time of 9:20.34.
 
Grace Jostock led the Loyola women in the 3,000 meters, posting a time of 9:59.02 to finish seventh in her heat and eighth overall. Alex Morris (10:21.49) and Charlotte Wilson (11:34.42) rounded out the Ramblers' efforts, finishing sixth and 10th, respectively, in a separate heat.
 
The Ramblers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Notre Dame Invite in South Bend, Indiana.