TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo men's and women's cross country teams have one final tune-up on Friday before competing at the MAC Championships.
The Rockets head north to Ypsilanti, MI for the Eastern Michigan Open, a prestigious event that has featured New Zealand Olympian Nick Willis, NCAA Steeplechase champion Jordan Desilets, British internationalist Gavin Thompson, Canadian internationalist Ryan McKenzie, members of the Hanson's Racing Club and Olympic Trials Steeplechase finalist Corey Nowitzke.
For the women, preparation continues for a team that has its sights set on capturing a third MAC Championship this decade, which would be the most of any team in the conference. Meanwhile, the men look to improve upon their previous-best finish in the MAC, when they took sixth in 2003.
The Rockets will rest their top runners this weekend, which allows the opportunity for some of the younger athletes to shine.
"With such a huge roster we are always focused on development," said head coach Kevin Hadsell. "This race enables our developing runners to have another chance to represent the University of Toledo."
Racing for the women will be Danielle Borowske, Hannah Brisson, Joni Camp, Megan Chambers, Samantha Condron, Kacy Crook, Hannah Evans, Jenna Fausey, Lauren Fausey, Ali Fisher, Maureen Gibbs, Richelle Gray, Emma Kertesz, Amanda Mannon, Kristal Studer and Danielle Thomas. Joel Kozlesky and Mike Smith from the men's team will be in action as well.
There is something on the line for those competing. The top Rocket finisher will get to be the ninth runner for the team next week at the MAC Championships, a tradition that started 10 years ago.
"With our depth, we have around 15 women that would be varsity runners at any other school in the conference," Hadsell said. "The ninth runner added has helped us win MAC titles."
Rank and File
The women's cross country team has earned respect around the region and nation for its performances this year. The Rockets have been ranked every week in the Great Lakes Region poll and received votes for three-straight weeks in the national USTFCCCA poll.
Go Fish
Sophomore Ari Fisher (Lebanon, OH) has enjoyed a breakout season. She won individual titles in the dual meet against Bowling Green (Sept. 4) and at the Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge (Sept. 26). Fisher has been the top-runner for the Rockets in all three meets she has competed in. She was twice named the MAC Cross Country Runner of the Week for her efforts (Sept. 29, Oct. 20) this season and has won the award three times in her career.
High Five
Running with a lineup consisting of all freshmen and sophomores, the women racked up a perfect score in defeating Bowling Green 15-40 in a dual meet Sept. 4. Fisher scored her first collegiate victory in a time of 14:01. Crossing behind her in a time of 14:29 was sophomore Lindsay Toussant (Minerva, OH), followed by freshman Devyn Ramsay (Benzonia, MI) in 14:34, sophomore Emma Kertesz (Toledo, OH) in 14:46 and freshman Kristal Studer (Bright, IN), also in 14:46.
The men also recorded a decisive win over the rival Falcons, scoring a 19-40 victory. Leading the charge was junior Elisha Kipchumba (Nairobi, Kenya) with a time of 15:13. Junior Chris Wall (Centerville, OH) turned in a time of 15:26 to take second, and sophomores David Herrett (Westerville, OH) and Jonathan DeWitt (Akron, OH) placed fourth and fifth with times of 15:35 and 15:41, respectively, to lead the Rockets to their fifth win over BG in the last seven years.
Rockets Soar to Win in Virginia
Fisher won her second meet of the season and the women's cross country team blew past the field in winning the Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge Saturday in Williamsburg, VA.
The Rockets, then-No. 12 in the Great Lakes region poll, had six of the top-10 finishers in the eight-team field and recorded 23 points. Host William & Mary, then-ranked No. 5 in the Southeast region, was second with 43 points, while Navy, which was sixth in the Mid-Atlantic region, placed third with 86 points.
Men Finish Fourth in Chicago
Running in muddy conditions at the Lakefront Invitational, the men's cross country team had another solid performance, taking fourth out of 39 teams.
Kipchumba led the way for the men again, finishing eighth overall on the 8K course in a time of 25:30. He was followed by Wall, who took 22nd in 25:50, while DeWitt completed the course in 26:07, which was 36th. Senior Ken Samoei (Kapsabet, Kenya) ran in 26:26 to place 45th, while junior Barnabas Kiprotich (Eldoret, Kenya) ran in 26:36 and finished 61st.
The women's squad, which sent its "B" team to the event, also ran well, taking 10th in a 34-team field. Dagna Sztykiel (Bytom, Poland) placed 33rd overall on the 5K course in 18:57. Sophomore Joni Camp (Sterling, OH) completed the course in 19:09, and was followed by sophomore Liza Cholin (Oregon, OH) in 19:27, junior Jenna Fausey (Minster, OH) in 19:33, freshman Hannah Evans (Lakewood, OH) in 19:38, and sophomore Danielle Thomas (Perrysburg, OH) in 19:44.
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
