"We're trying to give everyone an opportunity to compete with the best competition before the MAC meet," head coach Linh Nguyen said. "Unfortunately it requires breaking up the team but we have the ability to that to push everyone to their best performances."
 
Four athletes have all but locked themselves an appearance in the NCAA East Regional. Nguyen likes where his team stands right now in the NCAA and MAC standings.
 
"We look very good right now," Nguyen said. "Brooke, Jen, Liz and Kyesha all look to be in the NCAA meet for sure and Madeline is on the bubble. We have also have multiple people sitting in the top-five in the MAC as well."
 
Seven student-athletes currently hold top-five times in the Mid-American Conference. Senior Brooke Tullis has the fastest time in the conference in the 10,000m with a time of 34:11.33. The time was earned at Stanford Invitational and is the second fastest 10,000m mark in school history. Freshman Jennifer Lichter also holds the third fastest 10,000m time with a mark of 34:38.83.
 
Last time out at the Ball State Challenge, junior Madeline Pacella and senior Kyesha Neal both picked up victories for the Rockets. Pacella won the high jump in a jump-off with a 1.74m mark, and now sits 26th in the NCAA East Region and in position to qualify for the NCAAs. Pacella also bested the MAC qualifying mark of 1.68m.
 
Neal had a huge day in Muncie. The Findlay, OH native won the discus throw with a personal-best 47.47m toss. Neal also threw a personal-best in the shot put with a 15.47 toss, earning her a third-place finish. Neal has now qualified for the MAC Championships in the shot put and discus, and sits third and fourth, respectively. Neal also sits at 22nd in the NCAA East Region in the shot put.
 
"Kyesha has added two meters to her shot put this season, which is great." Nguyen said. "She's continuing a phenomenal season where she seems to PR at every meet she competes in."
 
Toledo will be back in action next weekend at the Hillsdale GINA relays on April 28-30.
 
TOLEDO SCHEDULE
VIRGINA CHALLENGE – Friday, April 22
7:25 p.m.             3,000m Steeplechase – Liz Weiler
9:02 p.m.             5,000m (Section 1) – Brooke Tullis
 
JESSE OWENS CLASSIC – Friday, April 22
4:00 p.m.             Discus – Katie Dewey, Kyesha Neal
7:00 p.m.             5,000m – Delainey Phelps
7:20 p.m.             5,000m (Showcase)– Jennifer Lichter, Priscilla Timmons
8:00 p.m.             1,500m – Julia Pusateri
8:45 p.m.             3000m Steeplecahase – Stephanie Barlow
 
Saturday, April 23
10:30 a.m.           Shot Put – Katie Dewey, Kyesha Neal
 
AL OWENS CLASSIC – Friday, April 22
12:00 p.m.           Hammer – Anna Bellman, Gabbi Jett
                           Javelin – Anna Bellman, Gabbi Jett
                           Triple Jump – Ty'Shai Freeman, Alexis Davis, Deja Martin
Saturday, April 23 Field events
11:00 a.m.           Shot put – Katie Dewey, Sally Frank
                           Discus – Katie Dewey, Sally Frank, Anna Bellman, Gabbi Jett
                           Long Jump – Alexis Davis, Ty'Shai Freeman, Madeline Pacella, Kailsi Latta-Thompson, Deja Martin
12:00 p.m.           High Jump –Madeline Pacella, Ty'Shai Freeman, Erin Carroll
                           Pole Vault – Hannah Saba, Alissa Jenkins, Maddie Jarrett
Running Events (One after another)
11:00 a.m             100m Hurdles Prelims – Kailsi Latta-Thompson
                           100m Prelims – Christina Johnson, Lexis Williams, Deja Martin, Kristiana Collins, Josie Yesmunt
                           5,000m – Stephanie Barlow, Delainey Phelps,
 
1:00 p.m.             400m Relay
                           1,500m – Maja Pacaric, Olivia Chinn, Stephanie Barlow, Stephanie Ingraham, Emily Wyrick, Megan Gaysunas, Marissa Rossetti, Nina Bendixen, Julia Bendixen, Julia Mendiola, Ashley Murray, Kelsey Calhoun
                           400m – Nautica Hill,
                           100m
                           800m
                           400m Hurdles – Akili Barnes
                           200m – Christina Johnson, Lexis Williams, Kristiana Collins, Josie Yesmunt
                           3000m Steeplechase – Olivia Chinn
                           1600m Relay