BOWLING GREEN, Ohio. – The University of Toledo cross country teams had very impressive finishes at the Mid-American Conference Championship meets in Bowling Green on Saturday. The Rocket women finished in second place, while the men took fifth. 

In the women's race, Toledo totaled 87 points, just three points behind first-place Northern Illinois. Host Bowling Green placed third with 90 points.  

"I'm glad we came in second as it is a nice improvement from where we were last year," said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "To be three points away from winning is frustrating. We knew Northern Illinois was a great team and they bounced back really well from what was a disappointing race for them a couple weeks ago. To be frank, we had an okay day but it is an improvement from where we were a year ago (fourth place). We feel like we have made huge gains in the past year."

Junior Maya Hannagan was first to finish for the Rockets with a ninth-place time of 21:21.0. Sophomore Emily Vining clocked in at 21:28.5 to take 13^th place. Junior Semra Karaslan clocked in at 21:36.0 taking the last spot in the top 15. Freshman Amanda Tremains placed 24^th with a time of 22:03.0, and sophomore Madeline Vining finished 26^th with a recorded time of 22:07.9. Hannagan's and Vining's top performances earned them All-MAC second team honors.

"Maya really stepped up today and had a terrific day with her ninth-place finish," said Grove- McDonough.
 
The Toledo men had a great run on Saturday as well, tying the program's best showing ever at the MAC Championships, scoring 123 points for a fifth-place finish. Eastern Michigan took first with 39 points. 

Sophomore Jacob Harris set the pace for the Rockets with a time of 24:25.4 finishing seventh. Freshman Ben Otis finished with a 12^th-place finish clocking in at 24:40.1. Sophomore Jake Rethman clocked in 17^th at 25:00.4 being the last Rocket to finish within the Top 20.  Freshman Ben Towler was the fourth Rocket to cross the finish line clocking in at 26:03.1 placing 45^th. Harris (first-team) and Otis (second-team) were named All-MAC for their efforts.
 
"Jacob's seventh-place finish was great. He has had some setbacks in training this year so for him to come out today and to run that well, we feel really great about him," said Grove-McDonough. "Our top three finishers were fantastic. We were actually without two of our best runners today, as one is a transfer and was not eligible to run this year, and the other suffered an injury last summer.  I feel good about where the men's program is at, and super excited about what we can do in the future."
 

 
MAC Championships
Bowling Green, Ohio I Saturday, Nov. 21

Women's 6K
Team Standings – Women
1. Northern Illinois – 84 points
2. Toledo – 87 points
3. Bowling Green – 90 points
4. Miami – 95 points
5. Ball State – 130 points
6. Ohio – 142 points
7. Akron  – 160 points
8. Central Michigan – 223 points
9. Eastern Michigan – 227 points
10. Kent State – 231 points
11. Western Michigan – 273 points
12. Buffalo – 357 points
 
Top 5 Individuals – Women
1. Kailee Perry – Bowling Green – 20:41.0
2. Ashley Tutt – Northern Illinois – 20:52.7
3. Mackenzie Callahan – Northern Illinois – 21:04.3
4. Elka Machan – Ball State – 21:05.4
5. Lindsey Scarton – Akron – 21:09.0
 
Toledo Individuals - Women
9. Maya Hannagan – 21:21.0 - Second-team All-MAC
13. Emily Vining – 21:28.5 - Second-team All-MAC
15. Semra Karaslan – 21:36.0
24. Amanda Tremains – 22:03.0
26. Madeline Vining – 22:07.9
34. Hannah Sponaugle – 22:19.4
36. Claire Steigerwald – 22:23.9
55. Michelle Hostettler– 22:48.2
72. Roma Lucarelli – 23:08.3
 
 Men's 8K
Team Standings - Men
1. Eastern Michigan – 39 points
2. Miami – 63 points
3. Buffalo – 94 points
4. Ohio – 116 points
5. Toledo – 123 points
6. Kent State – 139 points
7. Central Michigan – 182 points
6. Bowling Green – 183 points
 
Top 5 Individuals - Men
1. Josh Park - Ohio – 23:57.9
2. Andy Payne - Eastern Michigan – 24:00.3
3. Baldvin Magnusson - Eastern Michigan – 24:06.7
4. Chris Devaney - Eastern Michigan – 24:22.6
5. Alex Stamper - Miami – 24:25.2
 
Toledo Individuals - Men
6. Jacob Harris – 24:25.4 - First-team All-MAC
12. Ben Otis – 24:40.1 - Second-team All-MAC
17. Jake Rethman – 25:00.4
52. Jake Reaume – 26:14.1
56. Alex Kelker – 26:34.3
45. Ben Towler – 26:03.1
63. Cooper Losey – 26:52.0
58. Jonathan Hrivnak – 26:42.4
65. Micah Swartz – 26:57.9