The NCAA announced Sunday that the No. 30-ranked University of Toledo women's cross country team has earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Championships on November 22. The bid marks the first time in program history the Rockets have earned a spot in the championship meet as a team. 

Thirty-one teams were selected to participate in the championship. The top two, seven-person teams automatically qualified from each of the nine regions, for a total of 18 teams.  Thirteen additional teams were selected at-large, including Toledo. At the Great Lakes Regional meet on Saturday, the Rockets finished in third place and were unable to obtain an automatic bid. Due to the strong performance of the Rocket runners throughout the season, including wins over two automatic qualifiers - Florida and Rice, NCAA Pre-Nationals - the Rockets were able to earn one of the 13 remaining at-large bids. Toledo also had two runners honored as a part of the All-Region team on Saturday, junior Ari Fisher who took third overall and sophomore Emma Kertesz who finished 19th. 

Since the NCAA meet was set up with 31 teams and no automatic bids out of the conferences, only three other MAC schools have ever qualified for the NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships.  With Toledo earning the at-large bid, they become just the fourth MAC school to do so and the first since 2002. 

"We felt all year that we are talented and tough enough to make it," said Head Coach Kevin Hadsell. "We controlled our own destiny and the women proved themselves every meet. To earn our way into the meet on our own merit is particularly satisfying. We are honored to be representing the University of Toledo and the Mid-American Conference at the most exclusive NCAA Championship."

This year the Championship will be hosted by Indiana State University at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course located at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Indiana.  The women's race will begin at approximately 12:08 p.m. Eastern time. A live webcast of the championships will be broadcast from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday, November 22, on NCAA.com.  In addition, highlights from the championships will be included as part of the CBS NCAA Fall Seasonal Show scheduled to air on Saturday, December 18 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on CBS HD. 

"This is a great testament to how hard work and sacrifice can put you in a position for greatness," said Hadsell.