Friday, October 15
Tallahassee, Fla.
8:00 a.m.
University of Toledo
vs
NCAA Pre-Nationals
Freshman Joy Chirchir finished 20th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals on Friday.
Photo by: Toledo Athletics
Joy Chirchir Leads Rockets to 11th-Place Finish at Pre-Nationals
10/15/2021 12:04:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Freshman Joy Chirchir came in 20th place to lead Toledo to an 11th-place finish against some of the top teams in the nation at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Tallahassee, Fla. on Friday.
For the first time this season the Rockets had a complete lineup on the starting line. Chirchir completed the 6000m "Garnet" race in 20:15.8, about 30 seconds off the pace of medalist Abby Nichols of Colorado (19:46.4).
Toledo's other scorers were junior Faith Linga (32nd/20:24.6), senior Semra Karaslan (47th/20:38.4), junior Lou Trois (111th/21:20.8) and sophomore Madeline Vining (131st/21:34.8).
Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough was pleased overall with her team's performance but feels her Rockets have still not reached their potential.
"We're good trying to figure out how to be great," said Grove-McDonough. "We're still learning, still growing. We haven't put it all together yet. We faded a little bit at the end. It's hard going up against these historically great programs, but that's why we run in these races. We put ourselves in these situations on purpose. This is the biggest meet anyone on this team has ever raced in. We need to learn how to be comfortable in races like this."
The Rockets, who are ranked No. 28 in the country in the latest USTFCCCA poll, had 335 team points, finishing ahead No. 27 Kentucky (12th), as well as other schools who are receiving votes in the poll, such as Duke (15th) and Boston College (18th). Toledo also finished in front of fellow Great Lakes Region members Ohio State (No. 8 in the region), and Miami (10th).
Colorado won the Garnet race with 54 points, followed by Utah with 149. Toledo had 335 points.
NCAA Pre-Nationals
Friday, Oct. 15, 2021
Women's 6000m Garnet Race
Team Scores
1. Colorado - 54
2. Utah - 149
3. Florida State - 163
4. Ole Miss - 165
5. North Carolina - 184
6. Arkansas - 243
7. Northern Arizona - 279
8. Liberty - 279
9. Illinois - 302
10. Georgetown - 317
11. Toledo - 335
12. Kentucky - 342
13. Weber State - 365
14. Ohio State - 370
15. Duke - 379
16. Florida - 397
17. Wake Forest - 474
18. Boston College - 482
19. CBU - 492
20. UC Davis - 496
21. Utah Valley - 531
22. Miami (Ohio) - 567
23. Elon - 576
24. Wyoming - 667
25. UCLA - 679
26. Kansas - 709
27. Kansas State - 730
28. Montana State - 736
29. Auburn - 762
30. Arizona - 814
31. Arkansas State - 814
32. Central Arkansas - 969
33. UCF - 1000
Top Five Individuals - Garnet Race
1. Abby Nichols SR Colorado 19:46.4
2. Lauren Gregory JR Arkansas 19:47.7
3. Lauren Ryan SR Florida State 19:51.1
4. Taryn O'Neill JR Northern Arizona 19:53.4
5. Emily Covert FR Colorado 19:54.6
Toledo Individual Results - Garnet Race
20. Joy Chirchir - 20:15.8
32. Faith Linga - 20:24.6
47. Semra Karaslan - 20:38.4
111. Lou Trois - 21:20.8
131. Madeline Vining 21:34.8
162. Emily Vining 21:55.5
167. Claire Steigerwald 21:57.7
For the first time this season the Rockets had a complete lineup on the starting line. Chirchir completed the 6000m "Garnet" race in 20:15.8, about 30 seconds off the pace of medalist Abby Nichols of Colorado (19:46.4).
Toledo's other scorers were junior Faith Linga (32nd/20:24.6), senior Semra Karaslan (47th/20:38.4), junior Lou Trois (111th/21:20.8) and sophomore Madeline Vining (131st/21:34.8).
Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough was pleased overall with her team's performance but feels her Rockets have still not reached their potential.
"We're good trying to figure out how to be great," said Grove-McDonough. "We're still learning, still growing. We haven't put it all together yet. We faded a little bit at the end. It's hard going up against these historically great programs, but that's why we run in these races. We put ourselves in these situations on purpose. This is the biggest meet anyone on this team has ever raced in. We need to learn how to be comfortable in races like this."
The Rockets, who are ranked No. 28 in the country in the latest USTFCCCA poll, had 335 team points, finishing ahead No. 27 Kentucky (12th), as well as other schools who are receiving votes in the poll, such as Duke (15th) and Boston College (18th). Toledo also finished in front of fellow Great Lakes Region members Ohio State (No. 8 in the region), and Miami (10th).
Colorado won the Garnet race with 54 points, followed by Utah with 149. Toledo had 335 points.
NCAA Pre-Nationals
Friday, Oct. 15, 2021
Women's 6000m Garnet Race
Team Scores
1. Colorado - 54
2. Utah - 149
3. Florida State - 163
4. Ole Miss - 165
5. North Carolina - 184
6. Arkansas - 243
7. Northern Arizona - 279
8. Liberty - 279
9. Illinois - 302
10. Georgetown - 317
11. Toledo - 335
12. Kentucky - 342
13. Weber State - 365
14. Ohio State - 370
15. Duke - 379
16. Florida - 397
17. Wake Forest - 474
18. Boston College - 482
19. CBU - 492
20. UC Davis - 496
21. Utah Valley - 531
22. Miami (Ohio) - 567
23. Elon - 576
24. Wyoming - 667
25. UCLA - 679
26. Kansas - 709
27. Kansas State - 730
28. Montana State - 736
29. Auburn - 762
30. Arizona - 814
31. Arkansas State - 814
32. Central Arkansas - 969
33. UCF - 1000
Top Five Individuals - Garnet Race
1. Abby Nichols SR Colorado 19:46.4
2. Lauren Gregory JR Arkansas 19:47.7
3. Lauren Ryan SR Florida State 19:51.1
4. Taryn O'Neill JR Northern Arizona 19:53.4
5. Emily Covert FR Colorado 19:54.6
Toledo Individual Results - Garnet Race
20. Joy Chirchir - 20:15.8
32. Faith Linga - 20:24.6
47. Semra Karaslan - 20:38.4
111. Lou Trois - 21:20.8
131. Madeline Vining 21:34.8
162. Emily Vining 21:55.5
167. Claire Steigerwald 21:57.7
Players Mentioned
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
