ATHENS, OH - Even resting several of the team's top athletes, Toledo's track and field team tallied 177 points and a second-place finish at the Ohio Team Challenge on Saturday.
The host Bobcats took first with 219 points, with Marshall placing third (156) and Bowling Green fourth (145).
"We didn't treat the meet as a scored meet, so to beat BG and nearly beat OU is a great day," Kevin Hadsell, head coach, said. "Overall it was a very good meet and I was really pleased with our progress. I'm excited to fully open our season at the Penn and Hillsdale Relays in two weeks."
Amanda Kaverman was a double-winner for UT, as she crossed the line first in the 100 meter dash (12.01) and 200 (24.65). Joyce Kennedy, the school's record-holder in the 800, scored a victory in that event as she edged out Ohio's Hope McCarty with a time of 2:15.35, .01 in front of her competitor.
The Rockets proceeded to sweep the top-three spots in the 3000 steeplechase, with Dagna Sztykiel, Emma Kertesz and Amber Cushnie taking the top positions. Sztykiel's time is the third-fastest in the MAC so far this year. Kertesz, running the event for the first time in her career, debuted at No. 4 in the MAC and sixth all-time in Toledo history. Cushnie also moved to seventh in school history.
Kiah Douglas won the long jump for the second-straight meet, and Yuhong Fu and Jaime Gittens took the top two positions in the triple jump.
Sarah Woodrum led a two-three-four finish in the 400 with her time of 57.35, followed by Danielle Jacoby (58.27) and Kimara Morgan (59.41). UT also took second and third in the 1500, led by Kristal Studer (4:42.30) and Danielle Thomas (4:51.57).
The Rockets had a second-place showing in the 4x400 meter relay, as the team comprised of Jacoby, Kennedy, Antalesha Ballard and Studer recorded a mark of 4:03.08. Julie Snyder also had a runner-up performance in the high jump
Hannah Brisson finished fourth in the 5000 with a time of 18:28.88, as did Snyder in the 100 hurdles (15.03).
Toledo's success came despite holding out the squad's top-three distance runners (Ari Fisher, Lindsay Toussant and Audra Brown) and multi-event/triple jumper Alex Afloari, Also of note, UT moved to 7-0 against Bowling Green on the year in women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track.
Several of the Rockets' men's cross country runners were in action as well in the men's competition. Highlighting their efforts was Barnabas Kiprotich, who took second in the 800 (2:01.61), while Jon DeWitt tied for third (2:03.02).
UT is off next week and will split its squad the following weekend, April 23-24, for the Penn Relays in Philadelphia and the Hillsdale Relays in Hillsdale, MI.
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
