Photo Gallery from Day Two

KENT, Ohio – Freshman Joy Chirchir captured first in the 3000m on the final day of action at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at Kent, Ohio on Saturday.
 
It was Chirchir's second league title at the meet. She also won the 5000m on Friday. She was named MAC Freshman Runner of the Year and was also named Co-Performer of the Meet
 
Chirchir's performance gained 20 points in the team standings for the Rockets and helped them earn a tie for fourth-place with Kent State and just two points behind third-place Northern Illinois. Akron won the meet with 117.5 points.
 
"This is a big deal for us to finish in a tie with Kent State and just behind Northern," said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "Both of those teams have won championships, which is something we have never done. We finished in ninth place last year so we are moving in the direction we want to go. I feel really good about our chances at the MAC Outdoor Championships."
 
In the 3000m race on Saturday, Chirchir battled teammate Emily Vining for nearly the entire race. Chirchir edged out Vining at the tape with a time of 9:41.09, just ahead of Vining's 9:41.21. Twin sister Madeline Vining took fifth with a time of 9:52.62.
 
"Joy is a star, a special athlete," said Grove-McDonough. "She is a super competitor who loves to win and hates to lose."
 
Toledo got a big lift from sophomore Krystal Clark, who took third in the 800m with a time of 2:11.74. Senior Semra Karaslan wasn't far behind, coming in fifth (2:12.99), giving the Rockets 10 points out of that event.
 
"Krystal's previous best in the 800 was 2:20 so that was a huge breakthrough for her," said Grove-McDonough. "Also, give credit to Semra who was not 100 percent but still ran a great race."
 
Freshman Olivia Gang picked up a point for Toledo by finishing eighth in the mile (5:00.69).
 
 
In field events, senior Madeline Barnes finished fifth in the pole vault when she reached a height of 3.75m.
 
 
MAC Indoor Championship
Kent, Ohio | Feb. 25-26
Kent State Field House
 
Final Team Scores
1. Akron- 117.50
2. Eastern Michigan - 84.50
3. Northern Illinois- 70
4. Toledo - 68
4. Kent State - 68
6. Ball State - 62
7. Miami - 58
8. Bowling Green - 48
9. Central Michigan - 35
10. Buffalo - 24
11. Western Michigan - 16
12. Ohio - 12
 
MAC Freshman Runner of the Year
Joy Chirchir, Toledo
 
Co-Performer of the Meet
Joy Chirchir, Toledo
 
 
Toledo Day 2 Individual Results
 
Mile-Finals
8. Olivia Gang, 5:00.69 (1 point)
 
800m Run-Finals
3. Krystal Clark, 2:11.74 (6 points)
5. Semra Karaslan, 2:12.99 (4 points)
 
3000m Run-Finals
1. Joy Chirchir, 9:41.09 (10 points)
2. Emily Vining, 9:41.21 (8 points
9. Madeline Vining, 9:52.62
15. Morgan Hicks, 10:04.43
 
1600m Relay-Finals
12. Toledo, 3:58.75
 
Pole Vault-Finals
5. Madeline Barnes, 3.75m (4 points)
 
Triple Jump-Finals
16. Amara Okapaloka, 10.74m