Sept. 2, 2006

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PALOS HILLS, Ill. - The Loyola women's cross country team claimed the championship by 13 points while the men finished third at the 10th annual UIC Home Opener Saturday at Horsetail Lake. The Rambler women got a decisive 23-36 victory over the host school, UIC, to claim the championship among the six-team field. The men defeated UW-Green Bay (22-33), Chicago State (15-50) and St. Xavier (22-36) for a third-place finish.

Three Rambler women placed among the top five in the individual standings of the two-mile race. Ashley Raymond (Wheaton, Ill/Glenbard South) was the highest finisher, placing second overall (11:32). Raymond was followed by Pam Staton (Ingleside, Ill.) who placed fourth in 11:51 and Amanda Domich (Algonquin, Ill.) in fifth (11:52).

Senior Rachel Hansen (Omaha, Neb.) completed the course in 11:56 to place seventh while a trio of Loyola sophomores finished within six seconds of one another to place 10th through 12th: Genevieve Binnie placed 10th (12:00), Gada Qafisheh was 11th (12:03) and Maureeca Lambert was 12th (12:06).

Three Loyola seniors were among the top nine in the men's 4.1-mile race. Sam Romanoski (Lake Zurich, Ill.) tied DePaul's Sean Conroy for third at 20:57. Andy Sbertoli (Wood Dale, Ill.) followed five seconds later to place fifth (21:02). Shawn Lucas (Elgin, Ill.) completed his first cross country competition since 2004 with a ninth-place finish (21:24).

Both Rambler teams continue their season on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City.