Event has been run for the past 40 years

June 21, 2013

CHICAGO - The Loyola University Athletics Department will not host the annual Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational, a cross country race for college, high school, and grammar school teams, in 2013. While Loyola deeply regrets not being unable to sponsor this long-standing event, the cross country/track and field programs look forward to exploring different options to honor the memory of former Rambler runner Sean Earl.

Loyola Athletics would like to thank Tom Cooney for his work and continued support during the past 40 years. Cooney, a Loyola alum and former cross country and track and field coach, initiated the event in 1973 with four teams and has helped fuel its growth to over several thousand participants. He now owns and operates Lakeshore Athletic Services (LAS) and has graciously continued to offer his time, effort and financial support for the event.

The 2012-13 season was one of the most successful in the storied history of the Loyola cross country/track and field programs. After getting the year off to a great start with Horizon League titles in both men's and women's cross country, senior Gina Valgoi became the first Loyola female to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championship.

Loyola built on that momentum and grabbed both the men's and women's titles at the Horizon League Indoor Championships and senior Declan Murray finished third in the 800m at the NCAA Championship to earn First Team All-America status. To cap the memorable season, the Rambler women completed the triple-crown season by winning the Horizon League Outdoor Championship, while the men took second place, and Murray once again qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 800m and collected First Team All-America honors.

Thank you to all of the staff, coaches, volunteers, workers, runners, and alumni for helping to make the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational one of the top cross country races in the Midwest over the last 40 years.