No. 12 Toledo Wins MAC-Record Sixth-Straight MAC Championships

Friday, October 30

Kalamazoo, Mich. - Prairies Golf Course

11:00 a.m.

University of Toledo

Mid-American Conference Championships

Final Results

Photo by: Bree Bee

10/30/2026 3:06:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Seven Rockets earn all-conference honors and Andrea Grove-McDonough named MAC Coach of the Year for sixth consecutive season

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Five Rockets finished in the Top 10 to help No. 12 Toledo win its sixth consecutive Mid-American Conference Women's Cross Country Championship on Friday at the Prairie Golf Course in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The conference crown gives the Rockets a MAC-record sixth title in a row and a MAC-best 12^th championship in program history. Ohio ranks second with 10 titles.

Toledo dominated the race, finishing just one point shy of the meet record (25 points). The Rockets easily outdistanced runner-up UMass' 97 points.

"Today was a terrific day for both our programs," said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough, who was named the MAC Coach of the Year for a sixth straight season. "They continue to showcase what years of hard work, belief, and a culture that refuses to put a ceiling on themselves can accomplish. That culture has been built on athletes who have stayed loyal to our program and to each other and wanted to finish what they started. They are coming together at just the right moment. I'm incredibly proud of these athletes and our staff and grateful for all the support we get from our Rocket family."

Purity Chepkirui led UT with a second-place showing and time of 19:26.7 over the 6K course en route to becoming the fourth Rocket to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Dorcas Kiptanui finished in third place, less than a second behind Chepkirui. Melody Jebiwot (19:31.6), Karina James (19:42.9) and Bella Earl (19:42.9) rounded out the Rockets' scorers.

In total, Toledo placed nine runners in the Top 18.

Chepkirui, James, Jebiwot and Kiptanui each earned First Team All-MAC honors, marking the fourth time in program history that four Rockets have been honored.

Laura Acuna, Bella Earl and Lianna Surtz received Second-Team All-MAC honors to give UT its second-most all-conference honorees ever. Eight Rockets were honored in the 2012 campaign.

Grove-McDonough now owns the most MAC Coach of the Year awards in program history, one ahead of Kevin Hadsell (2001, 2002, 2010-12).

2026 MAC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Prairie Golf Course | Kalamazoo, Mich.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Toledo – 25 pts.
2. UMass – 97 pts.
3. Bowling Green – 101 pts.
4. Akron – 110 pts.
5. Western Michigan – 132 pts.
6. Ohio – 142 pts.
7. Eastern Michigan – 195 pts.
8. Central Michigan – 197 pts.
9. Miami – 200 pts.
10. Ball State – 291 pts.
11. Buffalo – 310 pts.
12. Kent State – 327 pts.

TOLEDO INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
2. Purity Chepkirui – 19:26.7
3. Dorcas Kiptanui – 19:27.1
5. Melody Jebiwot - 19:31.6
6. Karina James – 19:42.9
9. Bella Earl – 20:20.5
11. Lianna Surtz – 20:30.7
14. Laura Acuna – 20:40.1
16. Lauren Zanotelli – 20:41.7
18. Lily DiCola – 20:45.4
36. Olivia Gang – 21:24.0

2026 MAC Women's Cross Country All-MAC First Team
Mercy Jebitok, Akron
Purity Chepkirui, Toledo
Dorcas Kiptanui, Toledo
Megan Hipple, Akron
Melody Jebiwot, Toledo
Karina James, Toledo
Rachael Hoover, Bowling Green

2026 MAC Women's Cross Country All-MAC Second Team
Rylee Shunney, UMass
Bella Earl, Toledo
Ava Kurczewski, Western Michigan
Lianna Surtz, Toledo
Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio, UMass
Lexi Panning, Bowling Green
Laura Acuna, Toledo

2026 MAC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year
Purity Chepkirui, Toledo

2026 MAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year
Andrea Grove-McDonough, Toledo