Loyola Sweeps Horizon League Track and Field Athletes of the Week Honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- In an event unprecidented this season, Loyola has swept all four weekly Horizon League track and field Athletes of the Week awards after a brilliant performance at the Benedictine Eagle Invitational.

Sophomore Sam Penzenstadler (Oshkosh, Wis.) won his second Runner of the Week honor for the outdoor season while freshman Krista Kuss (Pittsburgh, Pa.) won the first of her career. Senior Paul Yovanic (Highland, Mich.) and sophomore Alison Szykowny (Palos Heights, Ill.) each won their first Field Athlete of the Week honor for the outdoor season.

Penzenstadler placed first in a field of 89 runners in the 1500m at 3:46.73, the best time in the Horizon League this season. Penzenstadler beat out senior teammate Declan Murray by just over a second and was one of four Ramblers finishing in the top six in the event.

Kuss won the 200m dash in a time of 24.76, beating out a field of 89 with the third-fastest time in school history. She helped Loyola take first out of 23 teams with a 3:58.50 finish in the 4x400m relay and also placed second in a field of 61 in the 100m dash, coming up just behind fellow Ramblers freshman Anierta Butler with a 12.27 time.

Yovanic placed second out of 42 in the hammer throw, but his 53.00m distance beat his own school record by over a meter and currently leads the Horizon League this season.

Szykowny, meanwhile, placed first in both the discus (44.68m, out of 62 competitors) and hammer throws (49.83m, out of 56) and finished second in the shot put (13.51m, out of 47). Despite the second-place finish, her shot put distance broke her own school record by almost half a meter.

The Ramblers return to action this weekend at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif.

2013 Horizon League Outdoor Track Runners of the Week:
March 26:            Sam Penzenstadler, Loyola; Nicole Zehel, Valparaiso
April 2:                 Justen Garth, UIC; Rebecca Zaiter, UIC & Gina Valgoi, Loyola
April 9:                 Jordan Schmidt, Milwaukee; Nina Grambling, Youngstown State
April 16:              Sam Penzenstadler, Loyola; Krista Kuss, Loyola

2013 Horizon League Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week:
March 26:            Alex Chollet, Milwaukee; Sherice Hewett, Milwaukee
April 2:                 James McLachlan, Loyola; Shelby Schaal, Milwaukee
April 9:                 Jordan Liles, Loyola; Andrea Crump, UIC
April 16:               Paul Yovanoic, Loyola; Alison Szykowny, Loyola