The Toledo women's and men's cross country teams will look to continue their streak of MAC Championships on Friday in Kalamazoo.
10/27/2026 2:32:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Rockets heading into championship season poised to reach new heights
TOLEDO, Ohio – Running fast isn't the only reason the Toledo women's and men's cross country programs are accomplishing things they've never done before. Since Andrea Grove-McDonough was named Director of Cross Country and Track & Field in 2019, she and her staff have built a diverse group of student-athletes representing 10 countries and five states.
That diversity has helped create two close-knit teams at the top of the Mid-American Conference that are poised to make history Friday at the MAC Championship in Kalamazoo, Mich., as well as at regional and national competitions in November. The Rocket women are seeking a conference-record sixth consecutive MAC title, while the men are pursuing a third straight championship after winning the first two titles in program history in 2024 and 2025.
"I think the opportunity we provide our athletes to spend time together with people from all over the world is great," said Grove-McDonough, who has been named MAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in each of the last five seasons. "I think that's an immeasurable thing, and the impact that it has sometimes goes underappreciated. Our teams travel together and get to spend a lot of time together, whether it's in a minivan, a hotel, or just in training. They put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into being successful, and it creates bonds that wouldn't have been there otherwise."
Senior Karina James has experienced firsthand the sense of togetherness that permeates both programs.
"We have a really tight-knit group," said James, a Lowell, Ind., native who won the 2025 MAC individual championship. "I would say that closeness is really obvious at our meets, and a big reason why is that we try to make it that way by integrating everyone. We have group chats with everyone. We often practice at the same time. I think that togetherness is an important piece to the success we've had. We choose to make it that way and encourage everyone to hang out."
Senior Peter McMahon felt that same connection during his recruiting process. The Syracuse, N.Y., native said Toledo's family atmosphere was a major reason he chose to become a Rocket.
"I liked that everybody was really close," McMahon said. "It gave me the family vibe I was looking for. Having a strong program here probably helped a little bit too, but I just liked the closeness I felt."
A 2025 First-Team All-MAC honoree, McMahon has also seen the program's ambitions evolve during his time at Toledo. What began as a pursuit of conference success has grown into a drive to compete on the national stage.
"At first we wanted to compete and win the MAC," McMahon said. "Once we did that, our mentality shifted to trying to do as well as we could in regionals and get to the NCAA Championships."
As those goals have expanded, the mutual support between the men's and women's teams has remained constant.
"A lot of us live in the same neighborhood and we're always hanging out," McMahon said. "We sometimes train and run with them depending on the day. That type of chemistry makes our program special with the way we support each other."
For James, the relationships she has built with teammates from different backgrounds have also provided lessons that extend beyond competition.
"I have found that anything you do as you get older is going to involve different nationalities, and being in a program like we have has taught me how to understand people from different countries and how to connect with them," James said. "It's been extremely beneficial, and it brings so much to the dynamic of our team."
Grove-McDonough believes that chemistry has become a defining strength as both teams pursue unprecedented success. The women reached the highest national ranking in program history this fall at No. 12, while the men's No. 6 ranking in the Great Lakes Region marked the best in program history.
"I think what's really helping our women compete at this level nationally right now isn't just our talent," Grove-McDonough said. "It's our camaraderie. The last two years are the easiest teams I've ever coached. It's not just in terms of their coachability. They're just a fun, fun group that's very steady and calm."
The men, meanwhile, have developed an identity of their own.
"Our men have a different energy. It's probably the best group of men we've had in terms of talent," Grove-McDonough said. "I think everybody's just super comfortable now with (Associate Head Coach) Louis (Vazquez) and (Assistant Coach) Ronnie (Brandal) in their second year. They seem to be having more fun than I've seen them have had before. They're looser than they've been before, and I think they're excited about what they're capable of."
Senior Joad Martinho, a two-time First-Team All-MAC selection who won the conference individual title last year, has emerged as a leader for the men's program. The Aulnay-sous-Bois, France, native said the support between the two teams provides additional motivation as the Rockets pursue their goals.
"There's a really good culture here, and we're going to support each other," Martinho said. "It gives us a little extra motivation because of all the support we have from the girls and from our great coaches. There are schools where there is only one director, and that person might only focus on the men or the women. Here, I think both teams work together, and that really shows."
That culture has also helped international athletes find a home in Toledo. Junior Melody Jebiwot, one of five Kenyans on the Rockets' men's and women's rosters, was encouraged to join the program after learning about it from former Rocket Faith Linga, a First-Team All-MAC selection in 2021 and 2022.
"Faith made me feel comfortable about coming to Toledo," Jebiwot said. "Our coaches are supportive and happy for us when we do well. They just want us to make sure we are healthy. They even support us when we run poorly and let us know that next time we can do better."
For Jebiwot, who is from Eldoret, Kenya, the relationships she has developed with her teammates have made the transition to life in the United States easier.
"I have liked getting to know people from different countries and learning about what their lives are like," said Jebiwot, a two-time all-conference selection. "It was hard for me at first, because English isn't my primary language. We interact well with each other, and now my teammates feel like sisters and we are a family."
Martinho has also valued the opportunity to learn from teammates with different backgrounds and perspectives. Despite their differences, he said, the athletes share a common appreciation for the opportunity to compete in the United States.
"Being a part of a program with many different cultures is good, because it brings out different points of view," Martinho said. "The one common thing we all have is that we are really grateful about the opportunity we have to run in the U.S. because that's the thing that brought us together. It's like a cross country family for us, and that's important because of the chemistry and love that we have for each other. Toledo is a place where we will have memories of forever."
That welcoming environment has helped Toledo attract top international talent, including freshman Purity Chepkirui, who arrived in the Glass City from Nakuru, Kenya, in August. A world-class middle-distance runner, Chepkirui won the 1,500-meter race at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships and has already made an impact on her new program. She has earned two MAC Runner of the Week honors and recorded the best finish by a Rocket at the prestigious Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational, placing fourth in a field that included 17 nationally ranked programs.
"Purity is super coachable and she is a sweet young lady," Grove-McDonough said. "Our team loves her. She has really impressed me with her poise and maturity, both on the cross-country course and just among our team. That's kind of one of the things she has going for her in addition to her immense talent."
The combination of international talent, strong relationships and shared ambition has positioned the Rockets to pursue milestones that once seemed out of reach. The women are seeking the highest national finish in program history, while the men are aiming to qualify for the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time.
For Grove-McDonough, building a program capable of reaching those heights begins with finding student-athletes who fit the culture, regardless of where they come from.
"My philosophy is that we don't really care where the talent comes from," said Grove-McDonough, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba. "I think we're honest and upfront about what our expectations are as a program and what we expect from the student-athletes when they get here, both academically, personally, and on the course, by being really honest and authentic in recruiting. I think it helps us get the right people here."
At Toledo, that approach has produced more than talented runners. It has built a family whose members bring different backgrounds and experiences to the same starting line, united by a shared commitment to one another and a desire to make history.
That diversity has helped create two close-knit teams at the top of the Mid-American Conference that are poised to make history Friday at the MAC Championship in Kalamazoo, Mich., as well as at regional and national competitions in November. The Rocket women are seeking a conference-record sixth consecutive MAC title, while the men are pursuing a third straight championship after winning the first two titles in program history in 2024 and 2025.
"I think the opportunity we provide our athletes to spend time together with people from all over the world is great," said Grove-McDonough, who has been named MAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in each of the last five seasons. "I think that's an immeasurable thing, and the impact that it has sometimes goes underappreciated. Our teams travel together and get to spend a lot of time together, whether it's in a minivan, a hotel, or just in training. They put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into being successful, and it creates bonds that wouldn't have been there otherwise."
Senior Karina James has experienced firsthand the sense of togetherness that permeates both programs.
"We have a really tight-knit group," said James, a Lowell, Ind., native who won the 2025 MAC individual championship. "I would say that closeness is really obvious at our meets, and a big reason why is that we try to make it that way by integrating everyone. We have group chats with everyone. We often practice at the same time. I think that togetherness is an important piece to the success we've had. We choose to make it that way and encourage everyone to hang out."
Senior Peter McMahon felt that same connection during his recruiting process. The Syracuse, N.Y., native said Toledo's family atmosphere was a major reason he chose to become a Rocket.
"I liked that everybody was really close," McMahon said. "It gave me the family vibe I was looking for. Having a strong program here probably helped a little bit too, but I just liked the closeness I felt."
A 2025 First-Team All-MAC honoree, McMahon has also seen the program's ambitions evolve during his time at Toledo. What began as a pursuit of conference success has grown into a drive to compete on the national stage.
"At first we wanted to compete and win the MAC," McMahon said. "Once we did that, our mentality shifted to trying to do as well as we could in regionals and get to the NCAA Championships."
As those goals have expanded, the mutual support between the men's and women's teams has remained constant.
"A lot of us live in the same neighborhood and we're always hanging out," McMahon said. "We sometimes train and run with them depending on the day. That type of chemistry makes our program special with the way we support each other."
For James, the relationships she has built with teammates from different backgrounds have also provided lessons that extend beyond competition.
"I have found that anything you do as you get older is going to involve different nationalities, and being in a program like we have has taught me how to understand people from different countries and how to connect with them," James said. "It's been extremely beneficial, and it brings so much to the dynamic of our team."
Grove-McDonough believes that chemistry has become a defining strength as both teams pursue unprecedented success. The women reached the highest national ranking in program history this fall at No. 12, while the men's No. 6 ranking in the Great Lakes Region marked the best in program history.
"I think what's really helping our women compete at this level nationally right now isn't just our talent," Grove-McDonough said. "It's our camaraderie. The last two years are the easiest teams I've ever coached. It's not just in terms of their coachability. They're just a fun, fun group that's very steady and calm."
The men, meanwhile, have developed an identity of their own.
"Our men have a different energy. It's probably the best group of men we've had in terms of talent," Grove-McDonough said. "I think everybody's just super comfortable now with (Associate Head Coach) Louis (Vazquez) and (Assistant Coach) Ronnie (Brandal) in their second year. They seem to be having more fun than I've seen them have had before. They're looser than they've been before, and I think they're excited about what they're capable of."
Senior Joad Martinho, a two-time First-Team All-MAC selection who won the conference individual title last year, has emerged as a leader for the men's program. The Aulnay-sous-Bois, France, native said the support between the two teams provides additional motivation as the Rockets pursue their goals.
"There's a really good culture here, and we're going to support each other," Martinho said. "It gives us a little extra motivation because of all the support we have from the girls and from our great coaches. There are schools where there is only one director, and that person might only focus on the men or the women. Here, I think both teams work together, and that really shows."
That culture has also helped international athletes find a home in Toledo. Junior Melody Jebiwot, one of five Kenyans on the Rockets' men's and women's rosters, was encouraged to join the program after learning about it from former Rocket Faith Linga, a First-Team All-MAC selection in 2021 and 2022.
"Faith made me feel comfortable about coming to Toledo," Jebiwot said. "Our coaches are supportive and happy for us when we do well. They just want us to make sure we are healthy. They even support us when we run poorly and let us know that next time we can do better."
For Jebiwot, who is from Eldoret, Kenya, the relationships she has developed with her teammates have made the transition to life in the United States easier.
"I have liked getting to know people from different countries and learning about what their lives are like," said Jebiwot, a two-time all-conference selection. "It was hard for me at first, because English isn't my primary language. We interact well with each other, and now my teammates feel like sisters and we are a family."
Martinho has also valued the opportunity to learn from teammates with different backgrounds and perspectives. Despite their differences, he said, the athletes share a common appreciation for the opportunity to compete in the United States.
"Being a part of a program with many different cultures is good, because it brings out different points of view," Martinho said. "The one common thing we all have is that we are really grateful about the opportunity we have to run in the U.S. because that's the thing that brought us together. It's like a cross country family for us, and that's important because of the chemistry and love that we have for each other. Toledo is a place where we will have memories of forever."
That welcoming environment has helped Toledo attract top international talent, including freshman Purity Chepkirui, who arrived in the Glass City from Nakuru, Kenya, in August. A world-class middle-distance runner, Chepkirui won the 1,500-meter race at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships and has already made an impact on her new program. She has earned two MAC Runner of the Week honors and recorded the best finish by a Rocket at the prestigious Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational, placing fourth in a field that included 17 nationally ranked programs.
"Purity is super coachable and she is a sweet young lady," Grove-McDonough said. "Our team loves her. She has really impressed me with her poise and maturity, both on the cross-country course and just among our team. That's kind of one of the things she has going for her in addition to her immense talent."
The combination of international talent, strong relationships and shared ambition has positioned the Rockets to pursue milestones that once seemed out of reach. The women are seeking the highest national finish in program history, while the men are aiming to qualify for the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time.
For Grove-McDonough, building a program capable of reaching those heights begins with finding student-athletes who fit the culture, regardless of where they come from.
"My philosophy is that we don't really care where the talent comes from," said Grove-McDonough, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba. "I think we're honest and upfront about what our expectations are as a program and what we expect from the student-athletes when they get here, both academically, personally, and on the course, by being really honest and authentic in recruiting. I think it helps us get the right people here."
At Toledo, that approach has produced more than talented runners. It has built a family whose members bring different backgrounds and experiences to the same starting line, united by a shared commitment to one another and a desire to make history.
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