ORLANDO, Fla. - Freshman Promise Cross highlighted a busy Saturday for the Toledo women's track & field team with a season-best jump of 1.66m in the high jump to finish in fifth place at the Knights Invite in Orlando, Fla. Cross also leaped her way into a personal-best time of 14.60 in the 100m hurdles to finish 17^th.

Cross was one of a handful of Rockets who competed in Orlando on Saturday. Some of her teammates ran at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, while others competed at the RedHawk Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.

The Rockets clocked in two more personal-best times in Orlando as Alexia Moehling finished 21^st in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.96, and Ava Moran finished 20^th in the 100m with a time of 12.43.  Cross currently ranks eighth in the Mid-American Conference for the high jump.
 
"The sprints and jumps crew had a great finish this weekend," said Associate Head Coach Adrian Ghioroaie. "Promise's marks should put her as one of the favorites in the heptathlon at the MAC Championships. The 4x400m relay team finished the day with a top eight time within the MAC."
 
In Des Moines, senior Petronela Simiuc brought the three-day Drake Relays to an end for the Rockets with an eighth-place finish in the 800m with a time of 2:09.54.
 
"It was a solid weekend for us at the Drake Relays," said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "Petronela improved upon her qualifying mark for the NCAA regionals, and Emily had a terrific race in her first attempt at the 5000m."
 
At the RedHawk Invitational, Claire Stegierwald clocked in with a time of 17:13.35, finishing third in the 5000m. In the 1500m, Riley Kwiatkowski finished 15^th with a time of 4:50.02, followed by Megan Burmeister (23^rd/ 4:57.83 *PR*) and Nichole Foor  (38^th/5:16.08)
 
"The athletes competing today were consistent with where they have been all season," said Assistant Coach Nick Stenuf. "Claire bounced back from her performance at EKU with a strong third-place finish to start off the meet."
 
The Rockets closeout the 2021 outdoor season with 12 top-10 marks in the MAC. The Mid-American Outdoor Championships will take place on May 7-8 in Oxford, Ohio. Prior to the MACs, Simiuc will travel to Clovis, Calif. on Friday, April 30 to compete at the West Coast Relays in hopes of a qualifying time for the NCAA East Preliminary meet on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla.
 
KNIGHT'S INVITE
Orlando, Fla.
Saturday, April 24
 
Field Events
High Jump
5. Promise Cross – 1.66m *SB*
 
Running Events
100m Hurdles
17. Promise Cross – 14.60 **PR**
21. Alexia Moehling – 14.96 **PR**
 
400m
24. Allison Vogl – 59.92
 
100m
20. Ava Moran – 12.43 **PR**
 
1600m Relay
6. Shianne Johnson, Rayna Horner, Allison Vogl, Yana Khabina – 3:55.17
 
Drake Relays
Des Moines, Iowa
Saturday, April 24
 
800m
8. Petronela Simiuc – 2:09.54
 
 
Red Hawk Invitational
Oxford, Ohio
Saturday, April 24
 
800m
23. Paige Embaugh – 2:23.73
 
1500m
15. Riley Kwiatkowski – 4:50.02
23. Megan Burmeister – 4:57.83 **PR**
38. Nichole Foor – 5:16.08 *SB*
 
5000m
3. Claire Stegierwald – 17:13.35
 
3000m Steeplechase
9. Roma Lucarelli – 11:41.71
 
 
Knights Invite
Friday, April 23
Running Events
400M Hurdles
6. Yana Khabina – 1:00.10 *SB*
 
200m
33. Rayna Horner – 25.52 **PR
36. Shianne Johnson – 25.58 **PR**
38. Ava Moran – 25.68 **PR**
41. Promise Cross – 26.52
 
 
Drake Relays
Thursday, April 22
 
1500m (unseeded)
20. Meltem Yasar - 4:43.35
 
3000m Steeplechase
3. Semra Karaslan - 10:25.89
 
5000m
9. Emily Vining - 16:31.16 **PR**
 
Friday, April 23
1500m
6. Petronela Simiuc – 4:17.44 *PR* – in collegiate competition