Toledo Captures First MAC Championship in Program History

Saturday, November 2

Muncie, Ind.

12:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

MAC Championships

Toledo captured its first-ever MAC championship in men's cross country on Saturday.

Photo by: Samantha Blankenship / Ball State University

Toledo Captures First MAC Championship in Program History

11/2/2024 4:43:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

Final Results

Dominic Serem takes first as Rockets edge out Miami for league title

MUNCIE, Ind. – Freshman Dominic Serem's first-place finish helped Toledo capture its first-ever Mid-American Conference Men's Cross Country Championship in Muncie, Ind. on Saturday.

The race was extremely tight, as the Rockets finished with 49 points, just two points ahead of second-place Miami's 51. Saturday's result breaks a three-year streak in which Toledo finished as the runner-up in the conference championship race.

Serem took the 8K race title with a final mark of 23:20.28, becoming just the second-ever individual champion from Toledo after teammate Dennis Mutai won the conference individual title last year.

Sophomore Joad Martinho took fifth overall with a time of 24:07.80 while junior Joshuah Taylor placed 12^th (24:40.65), freshman Loann Belivet took 14^th (24:46.68) and senior Geoff Howles recorded a 17^th-place finish (24:46.68) for Toledo's 49 points.

Associate Head Coach Tito Medrano was named MAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second-straight season. Serem and Martinho each earned a spot on First Team All-MAC while Brelivet and Taylor were named to the Second Team All-MAC.

"We've always wanted to make sure that we were team-oriented and I think that's what happened today," said Medrano. "We had really team-oriented guys come together, and they ran hard for one another. We continually looked to get better every single race. Anytime we have a setback during the season we make sure to capitalize on it. I am so happy for the team as they put it all together. We stayed resilient even when we ran into a little bit of trouble, and we were able to overcome that today.

"If you're winning a conference title, no matter what, it's a huge deal. This is a great moment for our university and our athletic department. To win both championships, on the men's and the women's side, is incredibly special thing and has never been done in Toledo history. I am so proud of our athletes who continue to put in the work."

UP NEXT
Toledo continues the championship portion of its season as the Rockets head to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional race hosted by Akron on Nov. 15.

2024 MAC Men's Cross Country Championship
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024
Ball State Cross Country Course | Muncie, Ind.

Team Results
1. Toledo – 49
2. Miami – 51
3. Eastern Michigan – 78
T4. Buffalo – 120
T4. Ohio – 120
6. Akron – 140
7. Central Michigan – 148
8. Kent State – 214
9. Bowling Green - 259

Toledo Individual Results
1. Dominic Serem – 23:20.28
5. Joad Martinho – 24:07.80
12. Joshuah Taylor – 24:40.65
14. Loann Brelivet – 24:43.69
17. Geoff Howles – 24:46.68
25. Dennis Mutai – 25:10.24
43. Peter McMahon – 25:39.05
53. Max Matolin – 26:12.37
64. Alex Martinez – 26:56.56

2024 MAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year – Tito Medrano, Toledo
2024 MAC Men's Freshman Runner of the Year – Bismack Kipchirchir, Akron

First Team All-MAC
Bismack Kipchirchir, Akron
Moses Lekokei, Akron
Mhalicki Bronson, Miami
Patrick Wills, Miami
Baidy Ba, Kent State
Dominic Serem, Toledo
Joad Martinho, Toledo

Second Team All-MAC
Sam Peterson, Eastern Michigan
Ronan Codyre, Eastern Michigan
Chris Perkins, Miami
Petros Sanchez, Miami
Andrew Bracken, Ohio
Joshuah Taylor, Toledo
Loann Brelivet, Toledo