Friday, September 8
Normal, Ill.
5:00 p.m.
University of Toledo
at
ISU Country Financial Invitational
Athena Welsh (right) won the ISU Country Financial Invitational by more than 12 seconds on Friday
Welsh, Rockets Win ISU Country Financial Invitational
9/8/2017 11:24:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
NORMAL, Ill. - Sophomore Athena Welsh broke the tape in a time of 17:04.7 to win the ISU Country Financial Invitational and lead the Rockets to the team title on Friday evening.
Toledo posted a team score of 19 points (1-3-4-5-6) and defeated second place Northern Illinois by 55 markers.
"Athena led the race from wire to wire and looked very strong," said Toledo head coach Linh Nguyen. "We made the five and a half hour drive this morning but I wanted them to be aggressive at the front of the race. It payed off with strong placings and a team win."
The Rockets dominated the 5k competition from start to finish and placed six runners in the top 10. Senior Joan Jepkirui (17:43.1) finished on the podium in third place, senior Stephanie Barlow (17:51.7) took fourth and Petronela Simiuc (17:53.5) joined Welsh in the top five, placing fifth.
Freshman Michelle Hostettler rounded out the scoring for Toledo by clocking a time of 17:54.3 which was good enough for the sixth spot. Senior Delainey Phelps also snuck into the top 10, taking ninth in a time of 18:01.2.
Senior Olivia Chinn, who won the Mel Brodt Invitational a week ago, was the next Rocket to cross the line. She finished 12th with a mark of 18:12.2.
"The women's team, as a whole, ran very well today," said Nguyen. "We're still in some very heavy training and we will go back to that to get ready for the rest of the season."
The cross country teams venture to Minneapolis in two weeks for the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 23.
ISU Country Financial Invitational
Normal, Ill.
Women's 5K
Top 5
1. Athena Welsh - Toledo - 17:04.7
2. Lindsey Brewis - Loyola (Ill.) - 17:17.1
3. Joan Jepkirui - Toledo - 17:43.1
4. Stephanie Barlow - Toledo - 17:51.7
5. Petronela Simiuc - Toledo - 17:53.5
TOLEDO
1. Athena Welsh - 17:04.7
3. Joan Jepkirui - 17:43.1
4. Stephanie Barlow - 17:51.7
5. Petronela Simiuc - 17:53.5
6. Michelle Hostettler - 17:54.3
9. Delainey Phelps - 18:01.2
12. Olivia Chinn - 18:12.2
15. Zita Molnar - 18:17.3
25. Stephanie Sherman - 18:30.5
38. Hannah Sponaugle - 18:52.3
43. Riley Kwiatkowski - 18:55.0
57. Julia Mendiola - 19:15.5
63. Morgan Dembowski - 19:27.3
68. Maddie Ferner - 19:39.4
71. Roma Lucarelli - 19:55.9
Toledo posted a team score of 19 points (1-3-4-5-6) and defeated second place Northern Illinois by 55 markers.
"Athena led the race from wire to wire and looked very strong," said Toledo head coach Linh Nguyen. "We made the five and a half hour drive this morning but I wanted them to be aggressive at the front of the race. It payed off with strong placings and a team win."
The Rockets dominated the 5k competition from start to finish and placed six runners in the top 10. Senior Joan Jepkirui (17:43.1) finished on the podium in third place, senior Stephanie Barlow (17:51.7) took fourth and Petronela Simiuc (17:53.5) joined Welsh in the top five, placing fifth.
Freshman Michelle Hostettler rounded out the scoring for Toledo by clocking a time of 17:54.3 which was good enough for the sixth spot. Senior Delainey Phelps also snuck into the top 10, taking ninth in a time of 18:01.2.
Senior Olivia Chinn, who won the Mel Brodt Invitational a week ago, was the next Rocket to cross the line. She finished 12th with a mark of 18:12.2.
"The women's team, as a whole, ran very well today," said Nguyen. "We're still in some very heavy training and we will go back to that to get ready for the rest of the season."
The cross country teams venture to Minneapolis in two weeks for the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 23.
ISU Country Financial Invitational
Normal, Ill.
Women's 5K
Top 5
1. Athena Welsh - Toledo - 17:04.7
2. Lindsey Brewis - Loyola (Ill.) - 17:17.1
3. Joan Jepkirui - Toledo - 17:43.1
4. Stephanie Barlow - Toledo - 17:51.7
5. Petronela Simiuc - Toledo - 17:53.5
TOLEDO
1. Athena Welsh - 17:04.7
3. Joan Jepkirui - 17:43.1
4. Stephanie Barlow - 17:51.7
5. Petronela Simiuc - 17:53.5
6. Michelle Hostettler - 17:54.3
9. Delainey Phelps - 18:01.2
12. Olivia Chinn - 18:12.2
15. Zita Molnar - 18:17.3
25. Stephanie Sherman - 18:30.5
38. Hannah Sponaugle - 18:52.3
43. Riley Kwiatkowski - 18:55.0
57. Julia Mendiola - 19:15.5
63. Morgan Dembowski - 19:27.3
68. Maddie Ferner - 19:39.4
71. Roma Lucarelli - 19:55.9
Players Mentioned
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross Country
DISTANCE
/ Women's Cross CountryRISE: Beyond The Jersey - Joshuah Taylor - Teaser
Friday, May 30
RISE: Beyond The Jersey - Joshuah Taylor - Blueprints and Finish Lines
Tuesday, May 27
Toledo Women's and Men's Cross Country Mac Champions
Monday, November 04
Monday Minute feat. Geoff Howles of Men's Cross Country
Monday, October 14
