TOLEDO, Ohio - A year after finishing just three points away from a MAC Championship title, the Toledo women's cross country team is determined to grab the 2021 crown at this year's meet at the Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, Mich. this Saturday. The women's race begins at 12 noon, while the men will compete at 11:00 a.m.

Toledo, ranked fifth in the Great Lakes Region and No. 30 in the country, returns virtually all of its scorers from last year's race in which they totaled 87 points, just trailing Northern Illinois' 84 points. The Rockets are looking for their first MAC Championship crown since 2014. Top returners include senior Maya Hannagan (ninth in 2020) and sophomore Emily Vining (13th). But Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough has also added power at the top of her lineup with the addition of freshman Joy Chirchir, junior Faith Linga and senior Semra Karaslan. Chirchir and Linga have been among the top runners in the region so far this season.

"The goal for our women's team has always been clear since last year when we came up a few points shy of a championship," said Grove-McDonough, now in her third season as head coach. "Our goal was to win the championship this fall, and we feel that we are in a great place to do it. What we learned from last year is to make sure to show up on the day. We have to control the things we can control. We just need to come out and execute our game plan."

Toledo's men's team has high hopes after capturing fifth place at the MACs in 2020, tied for the highest finish in school history. The Rockets return two All-MAC runners from last year, junior Jacob Harris, who took sixth at MACs last year, and sophomore Ben Otis, who finished in 12th. Junior transfer Mathew Chesum has been Toledo's top runner so far this season.

"I think our men are going to surprise some people," said Grove-McDonough. "They are finally finding their groove. It's been tough to get the full lineup together this year but (assistant coach) Nick (Stenuf) has made all the right moves with them. He knows when to rest and run someone. They are coming into this championship as good as they've been all season and we are starting to see what the team can be based off the performance at pre-nationals. The goal is to finish higher than we've ever accomplished here at Toledo."

For live results of the 2021 MAC Cross Country Chamionships, click here.

For live video of the 2021 MAC Cross Country Chamionships, click here.