Toledo men's and women's cross country will compete on Saturday at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
Photo by: Bree Bee
11/14/2026 6:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Both teams captured Great Lakes Regional championships on Friday
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's and women's cross country teams had another reason to celebrate on Saturday as their names flashed across the TV screen during the NCAA Selection Show, sending a watch party in the Joe Grogan Room at Savage Arena into frenzied applause.
Both teams earned automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 21 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. It will mark the Rocket men's first-ever NCAA Championship appearance and the women's seventh, including the third in five years.
The meet will be televised nationally on ESPNU beginning at 10 a.m.
Both programs made history Friday with championship performances at the Great Lakes Regional. It marked the first regional title for both programs. The men became the first Mid-American Conference team to win the Great Lakes Regional since 1989, while the women became the first MAC program ever to win the regional.
"Having both teams qualify for the NCAA Championships is an incredible accomplishment for our program," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Andrea Grove-McDonough. "These athletes have worked tremendously hard, stayed committed to one another and continued to raise the standard for Toledo cross country. To see both teams earn the opportunity to compete on the national stage is something special."
The 15th-ranked Rocket women opened Friday by ending No. 13 Notre Dame's five-year reign as Great Lakes Regional champion by finishing 29 points ahead, 31-60 of the Fighting Irish for first place. Toledo swept the podium in the 6K race, with senior Karina James (19:55.2) joined by freshman Purity Chepkirui (19:55.3) and senior Dorcas Kiptanui (19:57.7).
"The women have been building toward this kind of performance all season," said Grove-McDonough. "To sweep the top three spots at a regional championship against a field as talented as this one speaks volumes about their depth, confidence and belief in one another. I'm incredibly proud of the way they competed."
James became the third Rocket to win a Great Lakes Regional individual title, tying Toledo with Notre Dame for the fifth-most individual champions in the event's history.
The UT men placed three runners in the top five to edge Notre Dame, 59-66. Junior Patrick Kiprop finished second in the 10K at 30:07.2, followed by senior Joad Martinho in third (30:09.4), just over two seconds behind. Freshman Eloshas Kipkirui placed fifth (30:16.6), while junior Loann Brelivet finished 13th (30:26.7).
"This is a landmark moment for our men's program," said Grove-McDonough. "We've talked about competing at the NCAA Championships and putting Toledo cross country on the national map. These guys didn't just qualify—they went out and won a regional championship. I'm so proud of the way they've embraced the challenge and represented this University."
The Toledo women's best finish at the NCAA Championships was 21st in 2011.
Toledo Women's Cross Country NCAA Championship History
2010 - 28th
2011 - 21st
2012 - 28th
2014 - 30th
2022 - 28th
2024 - 30th
Both teams earned automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 21 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. It will mark the Rocket men's first-ever NCAA Championship appearance and the women's seventh, including the third in five years.
The meet will be televised nationally on ESPNU beginning at 10 a.m.
Both programs made history Friday with championship performances at the Great Lakes Regional. It marked the first regional title for both programs. The men became the first Mid-American Conference team to win the Great Lakes Regional since 1989, while the women became the first MAC program ever to win the regional.
"Having both teams qualify for the NCAA Championships is an incredible accomplishment for our program," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Andrea Grove-McDonough. "These athletes have worked tremendously hard, stayed committed to one another and continued to raise the standard for Toledo cross country. To see both teams earn the opportunity to compete on the national stage is something special."
The 15th-ranked Rocket women opened Friday by ending No. 13 Notre Dame's five-year reign as Great Lakes Regional champion by finishing 29 points ahead, 31-60 of the Fighting Irish for first place. Toledo swept the podium in the 6K race, with senior Karina James (19:55.2) joined by freshman Purity Chepkirui (19:55.3) and senior Dorcas Kiptanui (19:57.7).
"The women have been building toward this kind of performance all season," said Grove-McDonough. "To sweep the top three spots at a regional championship against a field as talented as this one speaks volumes about their depth, confidence and belief in one another. I'm incredibly proud of the way they competed."
James became the third Rocket to win a Great Lakes Regional individual title, tying Toledo with Notre Dame for the fifth-most individual champions in the event's history.
The UT men placed three runners in the top five to edge Notre Dame, 59-66. Junior Patrick Kiprop finished second in the 10K at 30:07.2, followed by senior Joad Martinho in third (30:09.4), just over two seconds behind. Freshman Eloshas Kipkirui placed fifth (30:16.6), while junior Loann Brelivet finished 13th (30:26.7).
"This is a landmark moment for our men's program," said Grove-McDonough. "We've talked about competing at the NCAA Championships and putting Toledo cross country on the national map. These guys didn't just qualify—they went out and won a regional championship. I'm so proud of the way they've embraced the challenge and represented this University."
The Toledo women's best finish at the NCAA Championships was 21st in 2011.
Toledo Women's Cross Country NCAA Championship History
2010 - 28th
2011 - 21st
2012 - 28th
2014 - 30th
2022 - 28th
2024 - 30th
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross CountryFriday, May 30
Tuesday, May 27
Monday, November 04
Monday, October 14
