Toledo Becomes Winningest MAC Women’s Cross Country Program with Fifth-Straight Title

Toledo Becomes Winningest MAC Women's Cross Country Program with Fifth-Straight Title

Junior Karina James tallied a first-place finish to help Toledo wins its fifth-consecutive Mid-American Conference Women's Cross Country Championship in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday.

This marks the 11th conference championship for the Rockets, the most in league history by any school.

Toledo dominated the race, capturing five of the top 15 positions in the race for 32 points. Ohio came in second with 62 points.

James crossed the finish line with a final time of 20:28.8 to become the eighth Rocket to win an individual crown. She is the second in the past two years after Mercy Kinyanjui took the individual title in 2024.

Melody Jebiwot followed behind James, placing fourth with a mark of 20:48.7 while Dorcas Jeptoo Kiptanui placed fifth (20:55.5) in her first competition for Toledo. Lianna Surtz (seventh/20:55.5) and Hannah Ielfield (15th/21:16.8) rounded out the scoring for UT.

James, Jebiwot, Jeptoo Kiptanui and Surtz all earned First Team All-MAC honors. This is the first time all four Rockets have brought home First Team accolades and second consecutive season that Jebiwot and Surtz have earned All-MAC honors.

Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough was named the MAC Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive season. She is tied for the most in program history with Kevin Hadsell (2001, 2002, 2010-12).

"The women's team withstood its biggest challenge yet with two of the best MAC teams we've gone up against in years," Grove-McDonough said. "We've been running loose and fearless all fall and we had that on full display out there today.

"There was something that felt inevitable about this today. The calm and the confidence this team had on the start line was amazing. They just know how to win."

Toledo will continue its championship portion at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at Evansville, Indiana, on Friday, Nov. 14.