Loyola's Gina Valgoi Headed to National Championship

INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola senior Gina Valgoi (Detroit, Mich.) placed sixth overall at the NCAA Midwest Regional Meet on Saturday in St. Louis, earning an individual berth at the NCAA Championship Meet.

Valgoi posted a time of 20:37 in the 6K race at the Midwest Regional in St. Louis, Mo. The senior  will compete in the National Championship on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Tom Sawyer National Park in Louisville, Ky. She is the first female runner from Loyola to ever qualify for the NCAA Championship.

Two weeks earlier, Valgoi had earned medalist honors at the Horizon League championship meet in Kenosha, Wis., and was named the Horizon League women's cross country Runner of the Year. At that race, Valgoi finished the 5K course in 17:05, just four second shy of the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course record.

She was also named the Horizon League women's Runner of the Week on September 15.

“The highlight of the meet and this season has been Gina Valgoi,” Loyola head coach Randy Hasenbank said after Saturday's race.  “I am so proud of how far this young lady has come.  She is a very inspiring kid to watch."

As a team, Loyola finished in 11th place, improving 14 spots from last season.