11/13/2026 1:31:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Karina James wins individual title, with Patrick Kiprop pacing men with runner-up finish
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Toledo men's and women's cross country teams made history on Friday by each capturing their first-ever NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Forest Akers East Golf Course. Both squads will now head to Terre Haute, Ind. to compete in the NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 21.
I am thrilled for our program, our athletes, and our coaches, and all the people who support this team, said Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. I am filled with so much pride. What people saw today did not come easy. It's truly a story of perseverance, belief and love. These men and women believe in each other and in themselves. They believe in Toledo. That's the magic. Proudest moment of my career.
The 15th-ranked women opened the day by ending No. 13 Notre Dame's five-year run as NCAA Great Lakes Regional champions with a 29-point victory (31-60) over the Fighting Irish. Toledo swept the podium in the 6K race, with senior Karina James (19:55.2) edging out freshman Purity Chepkirui (19:55.3) and senior Dorcas Kiptanui (19:57.7).
James became the third Rocket ever to win a Great Lakes Regional title, tying Toledo with Notre Dame for fifth for the most individual champions in the event's history. UT also became the first Mid-American Conference school to win the Great Lakes Regional. Eastern Michigan finished second in 1996.
Rounding out the Rockets' scoring was junior Melody Jebiwot in sixth place (20:12.8) and sophomore Laura Acuna (20:53.6) in 19th place. Junior Bella Earl placed 25th (20:58.8) and senior Lianna Surtz was 31st (21:04.7).
Toledo's men built on the women's momentum and placed three runners in the Top Five to edge Notre Dame by a 59-66 margin. Junior Patrick Kiprop registered a runner-up finish with a time of 30:07.2 in the 10K event, with senior Joad Martinho just over two seconds behind him in third place (30:09.4). Freshman Eloshas Kipkirui placed fifth with a time of 30:16.6 and junior Loann Brelivet finished 13th (30:26.7). Senior Sibonelo Khumalo was the Rockets' final scorer, placing 36th with a time of 30:56.1.
Junior Peter McMahon (82nd/31:41.4) and freshman Joshu Carlin (102nd/32:05.1) also ran for the Rockets.
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. Toledo – 31 pts.
2. Notre Dame – 60 pts.
3. Michigan – 117 pts.
4. Indiana – 120 pts.
5. Michigan State – 185 pts.
6. Bowling Green – 208 pts.
7. Wisconsin – 248 pts.
8. Western Michigan – 273 pts.
9. Purdue – 332 pts.
10. Cincinnati – 335 pts.
11. Akron – 337 pts.
12. Indiana State – 358 pts.
13. Ohio – 371 pts.
14. Butler – 425 pts.
15. Youngstown State – 454 pts.
16. Central Michigan – 462 pts.
17. Miami (Ohio) - 471 pts.
18. Southern Indiana – 475 pts.
19. Ohio State – 493 pts.
20. Eastern Michigan – 499 pts.
21. Dayton – 513 pts.
22. Oakland – 719 pts.
23. Ball State – 738 pts.
24. Detroit Mercy – 744 pts.
25. IU Indianapolis – 769 pts.
26. Valparaiso – 787 pts.
27. Purdue Fort Wayne – 789 pts.
28. Xavier – 810 pts.
29. Wisconsin-Green Bay – 870 pts.
30. Wright State – 871 pts.
31. Marquette – 906 pts.
32. Evansville – 915 pts.
33. Milwaukee – 945 pts.
34. Cleveland State – 1015 pts.
TOLEDO WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
1. Karina James – 19:55.2
2. Purity Chepkirui – 19:55.3
3. Dorcas Kiptanui – 19:57.7
6. Melody Jebiwot – 20:12.8
19. Laura Acuña - 20:53.6
25. Bella Earl – 20:58.8
31. Lianna Surtz – 21:04.7
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. Toledo – 59 pts.
2. Notre Dame – 66 pts.
3. Michigan State – 106 pts.
4. Wisconsin – 109 pts.
5. Butler – 116 pts.
6. Michigan – 118 pts.
7. Purdue – 231 pts.
8. Indiana – 263 pts.
9. Cincinnati – 340 pts.
10. Youngstown State – 349 pts.
11. Miami (Ohio) - 370 pts.
12. Eastern Michigan – 378 pts.
13. Southern Indiana – 383 pts.
14. IU Indianapolis – 420 pts.
15. Akron – 454 pts.
16. Ohio State – 474 pts.
17. Marquette – 522 pts.
18. Ohio – 558 pts.
19. Wisconsin-Green Bay – 571 pts.
20. Detroit Mercy – 577 pts.
21. Indiana State – 582 pts.
22. Bowling Green – 612 pts.
23. Central Michigan – 615 pts.
24. Xavier – 657 pts.
25. Dayton – 669 pts.
26. Purdue Fort Wayne – 683 pts.
27. Valparaiso – 725 pts.
28. Evansville – 753 pts.
29. Oakland – 764 pts.
30. Milwaukee – 777 pts.
31. Wright State – 820 pts.
TOLEDO MEN'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
2. Patrick Kiprop – 30:07.2
3. Joad Martinho – 30:09.4
5. Eloshas Kipkirui – 30:16.6
13. Loann Brelivet – 30:26.7
36. Sibonelo Khumalo – 30:56.1
82. Peter McMahon – 31:41.4
102. Joshua Carlin – 32:05.1
