Loyola's Valgoi, Murray Named Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS -- After dominating performances at the Horizon League indoor championships and earning All-American honors at the NCAA indoor championships, Loyola seniors Gina Valgoi (Detroit, Mich.) and Declan Murray (Strongsville, Ohio) have been named the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year.

Valgoi was also named the Horizon League Female Cross Country Runner of the Year after earning the individual title and leading the Ramblers to the team championship. At the conference's indoor track and field championships, Valgoi was the high-point scorer (30) and earned individual titles in the mile, 3000m and 5000m, leading the Ramblers to their first-ever indoor women's title.

The senior from Detroit established four school records during the indoor season: the mile (4:43.69), 3K (9:30.05) and 5K (15:55.37) individually and as a member of the distance medley relay (11:44.10) team. All four marks were the tops in the Horizon League this season.

At the NCAA indoor championships, Valgoi earned second-team All-American honors by finishing 13th in the 5000m run.

Murray joined Valgoi at the NCAA championships and earned first-team All-American honors for his third-place finish in the 800m final.

At the Horizon League indoor championships, Murray earned the individual title in the 800m and finished second in the mile while leading his team to first-place finishes in the DMR and 4x400m, setting a new meet record (3:11.56). The Ramblers won their first men's title since 1980.

Murray set school records in five races this season: 600m (1:17.14), 800m (1:47.59), 1000m (2:23.46), 4x400m (3:10.63) and DMR (9:42.77). All five were the fastest times in the Horizon League. Additionally, he finished the season with the nation's seventh-best time in the 800m.

Horizon League teams started outdoor competition over the weekend. The conference's outdoor track and field championships will be held May 3-5 and will be hosted by Detroit.