Loras College Athletics

• Qualified for two NAIA cross country championships, as well as earning all-district and all-conference honors.
• Three-time national qualifier in track (800 & 1500-meters). Holds Loras College 1500 record.
• Earned Scholastic All-American honors in track.

Stories

“The True Loras Experience”
(Cross Country/Track and Field ’84-’88)
My first year at Loras (’84-’85) could be considered a “groundbreaking” year for the women’s track and field and cross country programs. One half of the ten-member cross country team consisted of freshman recruits. Three of us helped lead the way as the women’s squad captured a first place trophy early in the season at the Lamb Kohawk Invitational (Coe College), the first in the history of women’s cross country at Loras. After a few more victories, we gained the recognition and respect of the men’s program. Mentoring us became part of the men’s and coaches’ mission. Their mission always included trying to show us the “True Loras Experience.” Although this “True Loras Experience” phrase was constantly mentioned, we weren’t quite sure of its meaning. Now, if I had to pick a few Duhawk experiences that help define this motto, they would have to include the following...

The first would have to be when my 1985 cross country team finished second in the college division of the prestigious National Catholic Cross Country meet held at Notre Dame. For me, a small farm girl from Bernard, Iowa, (pop. 600) just competing there was quite a thrill.
The second defining moment came from the “spirit of camaraderie and competition” instilled by head track coach Bob Tucker. Returning to Dubuque from a National Track Championship in Arkansas during my sophomore year (’86), Coach Tucker lead the caravan up a mountainside in the Ozarks; and as I remember it, it was close to 12:30 a.m. The spirit of camaraderie and competition never ended in the “True Loras Experience.” Coach Tucker seized the moment to take the team racing on a different kind of track, a go-cart track!

These experiences along with a trip to Nassau, Bahamas, for international competition, small college and conferences championships, and individual and team national competitions, certainly came to define the “Loras Experience” for me. The “True Loras Experience” was a four-year experience of athletics and academics that always supported the spirit of camaraderie, competition, and excellence. And this four-year “True Loras Experience” will be remembered for 40 years or more!