OXFORD, Ohio – Senior Semra Karaslan took first place in the 3000m steeplechase to highlight a strong showing by the Toledo Rockets on Day One of the 2021 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Oxford, Ohio on Friday. Karaslan ran the event in a time of 10:17.40 and picked up 10 points for the Rockets, who are in fifth place heading into tomorrow's final day of competition. Sophomore Emily Vining finished in third in the steeple with a personal-best time of 10:33.62 to gain six points for Toledo.

Senior Stephanie Sherman started the day on the right track for the Rockets, taking second in the 10,000m with a time of 34:40.40, scoring 8 points. Senior Petronela Simiuc placed first in the 800m prelims (2:10.72) and the 1500m prelims (4:30.98). Karaslan will join Simiuc in the 1500m finals after a second-place finish with a time of 4:32.44, setting the stage for a strong Day Two for Toledo.

"We had an outstanding Day One and really got the ball rolling with our first event the 10,000m," said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "The manner in which our women competed today is exactly what we have been working on since the Indoor Championships (in February)."

McDonough was impressed by the performance of her distance corps.

"I cannot fully express how far Stephanie (Sherman) has come in the past 12 months and she is only getting started," said McDonough. "Claire Stegierwald had a breakthrough today as she gave us some very important points with her fifth-place finish (in the 10,000). Petronela did her thing today and sits as the top seed in both the 800 and 1500. Of all those who competed in both events, Petronela was the only athlete to pull off the double qualifier. In the steeple, Semra won her first MAC crown and Emily had her highest MAC finish, placing third."
 
Senior Yana Khabina will be advancing to the 400m hurdles final after finishing second in the prelims with a time of 1:00.59.  After four events, Promise Cross sits in third with 3014 points in the heptathlon. Cross tied for first in the high jump with a height of 1.63m and had a personal-best in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.27.

"Yana was terrific in her qualifying heat and is ready for a big finish tomorrow," said McDonough. "Promise had a great day, setting a personal-best in the 100m hurdles. The support, energy, and toughness by the entire team has made this an excellent day for competing."
 
MAC Outdoor Championships
Oxford, Ohio
Friday-Saturday, May 7-8

Women's Team Scores – Day One
1. Kent State – 36
2. Central Michigan – 33
3. Miami (Ohio) – 30
    Northern Illinois – 30
5. Toledo – 28
6. Eastern Michigan - 26
7. Akron - 21.50
8. Ohio - 11
9. Western Michigan - 9
10. Buffalo - 3.5
11. Ball State - 3
     Bowling Green - 3
 
Toledo Results
Friday, May 7
Heptathlon
Promise Cross
3. Current Standing - 3014 pts
2. 100m Hurdles – 14:27 **PR**
1. High Jump – 1.63m
4. Shot Put – 10.14m
4. 200m Dash – 26.40
 
Track Events
10,000m (Final)                                    
2. Stephanie Sherman – 34:40.40  * 8 pts
5. Claire Stegierwald – 36:05.42 * 4 pts
12. Maya Hannagan – 36.55.11 **PR**
 
1500m (Prelim)
1. Petronela Simiuc – 4:30.98 *Advanced to Finals
2. Semra Karaslan – 4:32.44 *Advanced to Finals
18. Meltem Yasar – 4:48.76
 
100m Hurdles (Prelim) 
18. Alexia Moehling -15:01
 
100m Dash (Prelim)      
15. Ava Moran – 12:29
 
800m (Prelim)
1. Petronela Simiuc – 2:10.72 *Advanced to Finals
 
400m Hurdles
2. Yana Khabina – 1:00.59
 
3000M Steeplechase  (Final)
1. Semra Karaslan – 10:17.40 – 10 pts
3. Emily Vining – 10:33.62 – 6 pts **PR**
12. Roma Lucarelli -  11:23.95
 
Saturday, May 8 - Schedule of Events
Field Events

Heptathlon
Promise Cross
10:00 a.m. – Long Jump
11:45 a.m. – Javelin Throw
2:30 p.m. – 800m Run
Track Events
1:40 p.m. – 400m Relay (Final)                                                                                                  
Meyah Haywood, Shianne Johnson, Ava Moran, Rayna Horner, Allison Vogl, Alexia Moehling, Yana Khabina
2:15 p.m. – 1500m (Final)
Petronela Simiuc, Semra Karaslan
3:50 p.m. – 800m Dash (Final)
Petronela Simiuc
4:10 p.m. – 400m Hurdles (Final)
Yana Khabina
5:00 p.m. – 5000m (Final)                                                                                                         
Emily Vining, Madeline Vining, Stephanie Sherman
5:45 p.m. – 1600m Relay                                                                                                          
Shianne Johnson, Ava Moran, Rayna Horner, Allison Vogl, Yana Khabina