CHICAGO – Toledo men's and women's cross country programs secured top-10 team finishes at the highly competitive Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Friday morning. The men placed seventh overall, while the women earned a ninth-place finish.

The women secured ninth with 205 points as the team raced against nine teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association National Coaches Poll. The Rockets finished ahead of No. 7 Providence and No. 21 Wisconsin as well as Cal Poly, Indiana and Loyola Chicago.

Sophomore Melody Jebiwot paced the women's squad in the 6K Championship event, earning 18th with a career-best final time of 20:10.19. Junior Karina James (41st/20:36.57), junior Lianna Surtz (42^nd/20:39.55) and graduate student Hannah Ielfield (49^th/20:43.42) each placed within the top 50. Senior Bailey Ranta rounded out the scoring for the Rockets, crossing the finish line with a personal-best mark of 20:56.56 to take 63rd.

Toledo placed seventh in the men's 8k championship event with 164 total points. The Rockets raced against three teams in the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll and finished in front of No. 24 Washington, Boston College, N.C. State, Florida State and Indiana in the team standings.

Junior Joad Martinho led the Rockets, earning a fifth-place finish with a career-best time of 23:26.58. Junior Sibonelo Khumalo followed behind, crossing the finish line with a time of 23:49.99 to place 12th. Sophomore Loann Brelivet (33^rd/24:16.01), junior Peter McMahon (49^th/24:34.38) and junior Max Matolin (67^th/24:55.02) each placed within the top 70 runners to conclude UT's scoring. McMahon, Matolin and Alex Martinez (93^rd/25:49.19) all ran career-best times.

Three Rockets also ran in the women's 6k open race. Sophomore Lauren Zanotelli led the way with a 14^th-place finish (22:15.23). Olivia Gang placed 15^th (22:22.16), while Margrett Watt took 17^th (22:33.37).

Quoting Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Andrea Grove-McDonough
On the women's team performance:
"Today felt like the real start to our season where we ran the majority of our lineup. We have a couple pieces to add to our arsenal for the end of the season that I'm excited about. I'm proud of how the team ran in the conditions and persevered through the mental part of the race. Outlook for the rest of the season is great!"

On the men's team performance:
"I could not be more proud of what I saw today from our men. Our men had probably their best team race in the last decade. The front of our lineup can run with any team in the country and this was a huge step forward for Toledo. I am excited to see what else they accomplish this season!"

Up Next
The Rockets return to action on Friday, Oct. 17 when they split squads between the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis. and the Princeton Fall Classic in Princeton, N.J.

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Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational
Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 | Chicago, Ill.

Tom Cooney Women's 6K Championship
Team Results
1. No. 2 N.C. State – 34 points
2. No. 26 Northwestern – 59 points
3. RV Gonzaga – 123 points
4. No. 11 Washington – 141 points
5. No. 30 Boston College – 165 points
6. Louisville – 189 points
7. Florida State – 195 points
8. No. 29 Minnesota – 200 points
9. Toledo – 205 points
10. No. 7 Providence – 235 points
11. No. 21 Wisconsin – 263 points
12. Cal Poly – 286 points
13. Indiana – 352 points
14. Loyola Chicago – 381 points
15. Santa Clara – 389 points

Toledo Individuals
18. Melody Jebiwot – 20:10.19 *career-best
41. Karina James – 20:36.57 *career-best
42. Lianna Surtz – 20:39.55
49. Hannah Ielfield – 20:43.42
63. Bailey Ranta – 20:56.56 *career-best
66. Lily DiCola – 21:05.54
70. Alex Bauer – 21:09.36
77. Jordyn Bartolomucci – 21:14.47
84. Bella Earl – 21:18.57
101. Jaydon Cirincione – 21:53.20

Tom Cooney Men's 8K Championship
Team Results
1. No. 7 Wisconsin – 71 points
2. Loyola Chicago – 108 points
3. Minnesota – 111 points
4. Louisville – 129 points
5. Cal Poly – 147 points
6. No. 16 North Carolina – 147 points
7. Toledo – 164 points
8. No. 24 Washington – 192 points
9. Providence – 202 points
10. Boston College - 219 points
11. NC State - 263 points
12. Florida State - 279 points
13. Indiana - 337 points
14. Santa Clara – 385 points

Toledo Individuals
5. Joad Martinho – 23:26.58
12. Sibonelo Khumalo – 23:49.99
33. Loann Brelivet – 24:16.01
49. Peter McMahon – 24:34.38 *career-best
67. Max Matolin – 24:55.02 *career-best
83. Ronald Neal – 25:24.45
96. Alex Martinez – 25:49.19 *career-best

Women's 6K Open Results
Toledo Individuals
14. Lauren Zanotelli – 22:15.23
15. Olivia Gang – 22:22.16
17. Margrett Watt – 22:33.37