Loyola Cross Country is off to a hot start to open up their 2021 campaign, finishing first at both the Cerritos Invite/Great Mini-Cow Run and the Rosemead Invitational during back-to-back weekends.

Most recently, the Cubs participated in the 36th Annual Rosemead XC Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 11) and took first place after merging team results and scoring 36 points. A week earlier (Sept. 4), Loyola swept the Cerritos Invite with all three levels also finishing in first place. At Don Knabe Park, the Varsity squad had 8 of the Top 11 finishers, JV Cubs finished 1-8, and Frosh had 10 of the Top 15 finishers. 

Briefly mentioned in PrepCalTrack’s recap of the Rosemead Invitational are a group of Varsity runners:

“While the tandem of (Richard) Moreno and (Dylan) Bissell were proven commodities following successful track campaigns last spring, it's the summertime emergence of junior Jake Ratkovich that has staked the Cubs to an impactful trio of low-scoring talents, having us peg Loyola as a leading contender to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals; the Cubs have made NXN three times before as a full team, most recently in 2010. Loyola's depth at the final scoring positions will be key, with Nate Mars (reportedly ill these weekend, so not competing in the elite race), Harrison Lavery, Colin Jacobs and the addition of promising transfer Henry Payne...” For the full recap and race results, click here.

36th Annual Rosemead XC Invitational

(Sept. 11, 2021)

Rosemead HS | Rosemead, CA

 
Team Standings

1st: Loyola (36)

2nd: Torrance (78)

3rd: Citrus Valley (136)

4th: Walnut (252)

5th: California (264) 

Elite - 3 Mile Run:

Top Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 2nd: Richard Moreno ’22 (15:23.1)
• 3rd: Dylan Bissell ’22 (15:23.8)
• 4th: Jake Ratkovich ’23 (15.26.9)

Senior - 3 Mile Run:

Top Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 5th: Dane Utley ’22 (16:30.4)
• 7th: Vincent Cho ’23 (16:43.4)
• 9th: Jake Walter ’22 (16:48.3)
• 10th: Keifer Lamberth (16.49.9)

Junior - 3 Mile Run:

Top Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 2nd: Henry Payne ’23 (16:27.4)
• 10th: John Garrett ’23 (17:09.5)

Sophomore - 3 Mile Run:

Top Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 3rd: Connor Bennett ’24 (17:07.8)
• 4th: Finn Corboy ’24 (17:08.5)

Freshman - 3 Mile Run:

Top Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 1st: Aaron Pavon ’25 (17:33.4)
• 5th: Tyler Thompson ’25 (18:23.7)
• 6th: Diego Banegas ’25 (18:24.2)

 –––––––

Cerritos Invite/Great Mini-Cow Run

(Sept. 4, 2021)

Don Knabe Community Regional Park | Cerritos, CA

Varsity - 3 Mile Run

Team Standings

1. Loyola (23)
2. Millikan (66)
3. Irvine (92)
4. Downey (113)
5. Marina (135)

Top 10 Individual Finishers | Full Results | *Five runners clocked in under 15:00

• 1st: Dylan Bissell ’22 (14:16.4)
• 4th: Richard Moreno ’22 (14:28.6)
• 5th: Jake Ratkovich ’23 (14:28.9)
• 6th: Harrison Lavery ’23 (14:45.7)
• 7th: Nathan Mars ’22 (14:59.7)
• 8th: Colin Jacobs ’23 (15:23.7)
• 9th: Julian Guinane ’23 (15:31.2)

JV - 3 Mile Run

Team Standings: 

1. Loyola (15)
2. Millikan (74)
3. Kennedy (156)
4. Downey (167)
5. Irvine (176)

Top 10 Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 1st: Connor Bennett ’24 (15:52.6)
• 2nd: Jake Walter ’22 (15:54.7)
• 3rd: Spencer DeClercq ’22 (16:00.8)
• 4th: John Garrett ’23 (16:11.5)
• 5th: Finn Corboy ’24 (16:11.8)
• 6th: Mac Birthistle ’23 (16:12.2)
• 7th: Matteo Sanavio ’24 (16:29.4)
• 8th: Andrew Parks ’22 (16:51.8)

Freshmen - 3 Mile Run

Team Standings: 

1. Loyola (20)
2. Millikan (46)
3. Irvine (96)
4. Marina (107)
5. Cerritos (115)

Top 10 Individual Finishers | Full Results

• 2nd: Aaron Pavon ’25 (16:07.8)
• 4th: Diego Banegas ’25 (17:31.1)
• 5th: Lucas Garcia ’25 (17:32.7)
• 6th: Connor Von der Ahe ’25 (17:36.9)
• 7th: Noah Cruz ’25 (17:44.9)
• 10th: Tyler Thompson ’25 (17:54.8)