Rockets Take Three Crowns in Final Day of MAC Championships

Saturday, May 11

DeKalb, Ill.

All Day

University of Toledo

MAC Outdoor Championships Day 3

Laura Nicholson (514) won the 1500m (4:23.32) and the 800m (2:07.83) for two of Toledo's three individual MAC Championships on Saturday.

Rockets Take Three Crowns in Final Day of MAC Championships

5/11/2024 7:03:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Laura Nicholson captures two gold medals, Mercy Kinyanjui wins 5000m

DEKALB, Ill. – The Toledo women's track & field team captured three individual championships, with Laura Nicholson winning the gold medal in the 800m and 1500m and Mercy Kinyanjui crossing the line first in the 5000m to highlight day three of the Mid-American Conference Track & Field Championships at NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex on Saturday.

Toledo finished the competition in sixth place with 66.5 points by totaling 38 on Saturday. Kent State won the overall championship with 137.5 points.

"Today was a day of champions for two athletes that showed up and showed out," said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "Laura and Mercy combined for 40 points, which is remarkable and something I hope people can appreciate. Mercy ran over nine miles and a collective 37.5 laps in three days, and Laura won her two championships within 90 minutes of each other. Those two delivered clutch performances on a day we battled some setbacks, so I'm exceptionally proud of them."

Nicholson first won the 1500m finals competition, finishing in 4:23.32 which was 4.12 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. She was joined on the podium by junior Alex Bauer, who finished fifth with a time of 4:31.23.

Nicholson later won the 800m with a personal record time of 2:07.83, surpassing her MAC-best time of 2:08.00 entering the competition. Toledo also received a sixth-place finish from senior Krystal Clark (2:14.10) and an eighth-place finish from senior Lou Trois (2:16.03).

Kinyanjui, a freshman, held within a half-second of the leader for most of the 5000m, before a final of lap of 1:12.97 put her 4.90 seconds clear of her nearest competition in a 16:32.01 finish.

The Rockets' next competition will be at the NCAA East Prelims in Lexington, Ky. on May 22-25.

MAC Track & Field Championships
DeKalb, Ill.
NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex
May 9-11 – Day Three

Overall Standings
1. Kent State – 137.5
2. Eastern Michigan – 126.5
3. Ball State – 103
4. Akron – 83
5. Western Michigan – 78
6. Toledo – 66.5
7. Miami – 48.5
8. Buffalo – 48
9. Bowling Green – 47
10. Central Michigan – 31
11. Northern Illinois – 29
12. Ohio - 20

4x100m Relay
11. Khamani Jones, Laryah Worthy, Jimesha Ragland, Isabelle Denny – 47.82

1500m Final
1. Laura Nicholson – 4:23.32 (10 pts.)
5. Alex Bauer – 4:31.23 (4 pts.)
9. Lou Trois – 4:34.52
11. Vilde Henriksen – 4:37.51

800m Final
1. Laura Nicholson – 2:07.83 *PR* (10 pts.)
6. Krystal Clark – 2:14.10 (3 pts.)
8. Lou Trois – 2:16.03 (1 pt.)

5000m
1. Mercy Kinyanjui – 16:32.01 (10 pts.)
11. Melody Jebiwot – 17:17.18
12. Madeline Vining – 17:23.47

4x400m Relay
12. Rahzia Rios-Smith, Laryah Worthy, Cadence Christie, Khamani Jones – 3:57.22