Cross Country runs at Watson Classic Friday

CLINTON, Miss. – The Loyola University New Orleans men's and women's cross country teams returned to Clinton, Mississippi, on Friday, where the teams began the 2025 cross country season. This time, Loyola competed in the Watson Invite with the men running in the 8-kilometer race and the women competing in the 6-kilometer event. 

The Loyola men finished fifth among 24 teams, first among all NAIA programs, and surpassed NCAA Division I programs such as Northwestern State, Jackson State, Southeastern Louisiana, and Louisiana Tech. The Wolf Pack women placed 13th among the 19 teams in Friday's meet, finishing third among SSAC programs.

The Maroon and Gold will wrap up the cross country regular season when the teams return to Oakville, Alabama, for the SSAC Championships on Friday, Nov. 7.

Among 168 runners, Meera Hijazi took 46th in Friday's women's race, recording a time of 24:40.0. Hijazi's 24:40.0 time is the seventh-best mark in the Loyola record book. Caitlyn Summers finished in 80th with a 26:13.4 time. Sophia Freeze and Sela Myers were next, taking 97th and 100th places for times of 27:01.9 and 27:11.0, respectively.

Emma Meneses claimed 117th place, clocking 27:47.1 in the race. Briana Bradley wrapped up the women's race for Loyola, ending the event in 150th place for a time of 32:33.5.

In the 214-man race, Jacob Kennedy was the first Loyola runner to cross the finish line on Friday, completing the event in 14th place for a 25:42.9 time, the third-best mark in program history. Jace Luckoski took 23rd place, recording a time of 26:01.9, tied for the ninth-best time in school history. Connor Meigs claimed 36th place, notching a 26:22.0 time.

Aubrey Gibson and Dylan Brown finished in 69th and 72nd places for times of 27:13.8 and 27:19.5, respectively. Cole Savoy was 77th in the race, logging a time of 27:25.5. In 90th and 94th places, Adam Merkle and Elijah Reeves logged times of 27:55.4 and 28:04.6. Drake Breland and Alastair Casler were next up, snagging 106th and 109th for times of 28:24.7 and 28:31.5. 

Landon Dixon (29:17.9), Jacob Mullis (29:32.9), and Daniel Miller (29:56.3) took 136th, 143rd, and 150th places. Matthew Doland and Carter Scheuermann rounded out the top 200 racers, claiming 157th and 188th for times of 30:12.1 and 33:25.8, respectively. Cris Velasquez helped Loyola secure its fifth-place team finish, taking 203rd place with a 37:27.2 time.

Women's 6K Results

46. Meera Hijazi, 24:40.0
80. Caitlyn Summers, 26:13.4
97. Sophia Freeze, 27:01.9
100. Sela Myers, 27:11.0
117. Emma Meneses, 27:47.1
150. Briana Bradley, 32:33.5

Men's 8K Results

14. Jacob Kennedy, 25:42.9
23. Jace Luckoski, 26:01.9
36. Connor Meigs, 26:22.0
69. Aubrey Gibson, 27:13.8
72. Dylan Brown, 27:19.5
77. Cole Savoy, 27:25.5
90. Adam Merkle, 27:55.4
94. Elijah Reeves, 28:04.6
106. Drake Breland, 28:24.7
109. Alastair Casler, 28:31.5
136. Landon Dixon, 29:17.9
143. Jacob Mullis, 29:32.9
150. Daniel Miller, 29:56.3
157. Matthew Doland, 30:12.1
188. Carter Scheuermann, 33:25.8
203. Cris Velasquez, 37:27.2