MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Amanda Kaverman sprinted her way to a victory in the 200-meter dash as the Toledo track and field team finished eighth at the MAC Indoor Championships, hosted by Central Michigan.
The Rockets finished with 44 points, just a shade behind Buffalo (46). Kent State won the title with 107 points. Toledo improved on its 10th-place finish from a year ago, and Ari Fisher was named the MAC's outstanding distance runner after winning the 5000 meter run last night.
Kaverman, a junior, recorded a personal-best time in the 200 meters with her mark of 24.43. She claimed victory by over two-tenths of a second. The Sylvania, Ohio also took eighth in the 600-meter dash with her time of 7.68.
"I'm really proud of Amanda," Head Coach Kevin Hadsell said. "She has really come into her own under coach Kiesler and this is just the beginning for her."
Michelle Sutherland nearly equaled her personal-best in the high jump as the senior finished in second place with a height of 5-08.50.
A pair of Rockets scored in the triple jump, led by Alexandra Afloari, who placed fourth (39-11.25). Her mark is a Toledo-best and the fourth-best in Rocket history. Yuhong Fu came in seventh with a leap of 38-11.00, which is also seventh on the school's performance list.
Sarah Woodrum, competing in her first MAC Championships, finished seventh in the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.34, nearly two-tenths of a second faster than her preliminary time.
"We are one of the most improved teams in the MAC, and an unfortunate end to the meet dropped us to eighth," Hadsell said. "Still, we scored the most points in the meet that we have since 2003."
Several injuries hampered Toledo's quest for a finish in the top half of the conference. Afloari withdrew from the triple jump early, while Fisher, the favorite to win the 3000, also had to withdraw with a hamstring injury.
"Ari's health and long-term development is more important to me than the team score," Hadsell said. "She'll be fine and I don't regret pulling her. She had the only NCAA qualifying performance in the running events and nearly lapped the entire field. It was classic Toledo-style."
TEAM SCORES:
1) Kent State, 107
2) Central Michigan, 100
3) Western Michigan, 92
4) Miami (Ohio), 79.50
5) Eastern Michigan, 75
6) Akron, 61
7) Buffalo, 46
8) TOLEDO, 44
9) Ohio U., 26.50
10) Ball State, 25
11) Bowling Green, 6
12) Northern Illinois, 1
EVENT TITLES
Ari Fisher: 5000 meter (16:42.87, NCAA Provisional)
Amanda Kaverman: 200 meter (24.43)
POINT SCORERS
Distance Medley Relay: Karen Sovacool, Danielle Jacoby, Danielle Thomas, Kristal Studer (12:08.20, 7th).
Alexandra Afloari: Triple jump (39-11.25, 4th).
Audra Brown: 5000 meter (17.39.75, 8th).
Yuhong Fu: Triple jump (38-11.00, 7th).
Amanda Kaverman: 60 meter (7.68, 8th).
Julie Snyder: Pentathlon (3657, 6th).
Michelle Sutherland: High jump (5-08.50, 2nd).
Sarah Woodrum: 400 meter (57.34, 7th).
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
