BUFFALO, NY - With just a few events in the books at the first day of the MAC Track and Field Championships, Audra Brown put the Rockets on the scoreboard with her eighth place finish in the 10000-meter run Thursday at Buffalo.

Brown crossed the line in a time of 36:53.07. However, it was a bittersweet end to that race, as cross country champion Ari Fisher was forced to withdraw from the meet after suffering an injury following her NCAA qualifying performance at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

"Audra battled the second half of the race to out-kick a former MAC champion for eighth," Kevin Hadsell, head coach, said. "It was a great performance for her. But losing Ari for that event and the rest of the meet costs us about 20 points. The rest of the team is going to try and do their best to make up the difference. We have some work to do the rest of this meet."

In the heptathlon, Julie Snyder had a successful start as she is in third place with 3079 points through four events.

Snyder racked up 934 points after winning the 100 hurdles with her time of 14.32. She tied for fourth in the high jump (5-05.00), which netted her 795 points, and the Celina, OH native also took fourth in the shot put with a throw of 34-05.75, which resulted in 563 points. A fourth place effort in the 200 dash as well accounted for 787 points.

"Julie is in a perfect position to not only finish in top two in the event, but to also qualify for the NCAA Championships," Hadsell said.

Also in competition for UT was Danielle Jacoby, who made the finals in the javelin throw and finished just shy of scoring as she placed ninth (117-07). It was the first time in 20 years that a Rocket advanced to the finals in the javelin.

"Danielle did a great job," Hadsell said. "She is positioning herself to challenge for big points next year."

Even after the disappointing setback with Fisher's injury, the Rockets are still poised to contend the remainder of the weekend.

"Day one is not a huge point day, with only three of the 21 events contested," Hadsell said. "We have to battle hard to overcome the loss of Ari. Tomorrow is an incredibly important day."

Action continues at Buffalo beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday.

TEAM SCORES - 3 Events Scored

1) Kent State, 25      
2) Akron, 24 
3) Ohio U., 18      
3) Buffalo, 18 
5) Central Michigan, 16      
6) Western Michigan, 11
7) Ball State, 4       
8) Toledo, 1
9) Northern Illinois, 0
9) Miami, 0
9) Eastern Michigan, 0
9) Bowling Green, 0

Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu