Saturday, September 19
Terre Haute, Ind.
8:30 a.m.
University of Toledo
at
John McNichols Invitational
Senior Joad Martinho led the Toledo men with a 10th-place finish at the John McNichols Invitational.
Photo by: Christian Surtz
Women Place Fourth and Defeat Three Ranked Teams at John McNichols Invitational
9/19/2026 11:49:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Freshman Purity Chepkirui and senior Joad Martinho each post Top-10 finishes
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Freshman Purity Chepkirui and senior Joad Martinho each registered top-10 finishes to lead the Toledo women's and men's cross country teams on Saturday morning at the John McNichols Invitational.
The No. 25-ranked Rocket women finished ahead of three nationally-ranked programs with its fourth-place showing and 124 points, three behind No. 21 Washington State. No. 8 Northern Arizona won the race with 61 points with No. 20 Utah finishing second (107 pts.).
Chepkirui recorded her second consecutive top-10 finish as a Rocket. She placed eighth with a time of 20:03.3 in the 6K race, with juniors Melody Jebiwot (15th/20:19.7) and Dorcas Kiptanui (16th/20.20.5) notching top-20 finishes. Seniors Karina James (42nd/21:00.0) and Lianna Surtz (43rd/21:00.5) rounded out the Rockets' scoring.
"I thought on a good day our women could have finished as high as second," Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough said. "We definitely will get better as the season goes on, especially at our 4/5 spot. We had great races out of our 1,2,3 and a super day by the back of our lineup in 6-8 spots. There's lots to feel good about, but lots to build on too. We can see the areas we can get better for the championship segment of our season."
The Toledo men placed 16th with 357 pts., finishing ahead of No. 23 Air Force and No. 26 Louisville. UT was just four points behind No. 20 Georgia.
Senior Joad Martinho led the way with his 10th-place showing in a time of 23:58.4. Senior Loann Brelivet finished 34th (24:20.9), with junior Patrick Kiprop (58th/24:34.0), senior Sibonelo Khumalo (25:10.3), and junior Ronnie Neal (25:30.0) completing the Rockets' scoring.
"Our men had a solid day especially up front," Grove-McDonough said. "We had a great day from our 1-2. Loann had the best race of his collegiate career. It's obvious we need Eloshas in our lineup who will be a great up front runner with Joad. We have some work to do in the back of the lineup, but we know those guys have the runway they need to get there."
Toledo will be idle next weekend and return to competition on Friday, Oct. 2 at Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational.
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. No. 8 Northern Arizona - 61 pts.
2. No. 20 Utah – 107 pts.
3. No. 21 Washington State – 121 pts.
4. No. 25 TOLEDO – 124 pts.
5. No. 14 Florida – 156 pts.
6. No. 22 Washington – 176 pts.
7. No. 28 Boston College – 217 pts.
8. Eastern Kentucky – 248 pts.
9. Michigan State – 267 pts.
10. Louisville – 280 pts.
11. Utah Valley – 284 pts.
12. Indiana – 311 pts.
13. Georgia – 335 pts.
14. Air Force – 358 pts.
15. Harvard – 406 pts.
16. Wisconsin – 422 pts.
17. California Baptist – 481 pts.
18. Indiana State – 513 pts.
19. Weber State – 559 pts.
20. Purdue – 567 pts.
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
8. Purity Chepkirui – 20:03.3
15. Melody Jebiwot – 20:19.7
16. Dorcas Kiptanui – 20:20.5
42. Karina James – 21:00.0
43. Lianna Surtz – 21:00.5
51. Bella Earl – 21:10.5
79. Cadence Christie – 21:34.5
82. Lillian Dicola – 21:35.3
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. No. 9 BYU – 71 pts.
2. No. 21 Florida – 119 pts.
3. Washington – 190 pts.
4. No. 27 Stanford – 205 pts.
5. No. 11 Washington State – 212 pts.
6. No. 17 Michigan State – 212 pts.
7. No. 7 Northern Arizona – 232 pts.
8. Utah Valley – 265 pts.
9. No. 10 Wisconsin – 267 pts.
10. No. 16 Butler – 275 pts.
11. No. 19 Harvard – 277 pts.
12. No. 12 Eastern Kentucky – 312 pts.
13. No. 13 Utah State – 328 pts.
14. No. 24 California Baptist – 338 pts.
15. No. 20 Georgia – 353 pts.
16. TOLEDO – 357 pts.
17. Portland – 390 pts.
18. No. 26 Louisville – 407 pts.
19. Navy – 487 pts.
20. No. 23 Air Force – 499 pts.
21. Purdue – 572 pts.
22. Weber State – 660 pts.
23. Indiana – 669 pts.
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
10. Joad Martinho – 23:58.4
34. Loann Brelivet – 24:20.9
58. Patrick Kiprop – 24:34.0
117. Sibonelo Khumalo – 25:10.3
150. Ronnie Neal – 25:30.0
155. Peter McMahon – 25:35.6
190. Joshuah Taylor – 26:16.7
The No. 25-ranked Rocket women finished ahead of three nationally-ranked programs with its fourth-place showing and 124 points, three behind No. 21 Washington State. No. 8 Northern Arizona won the race with 61 points with No. 20 Utah finishing second (107 pts.).
Chepkirui recorded her second consecutive top-10 finish as a Rocket. She placed eighth with a time of 20:03.3 in the 6K race, with juniors Melody Jebiwot (15th/20:19.7) and Dorcas Kiptanui (16th/20.20.5) notching top-20 finishes. Seniors Karina James (42nd/21:00.0) and Lianna Surtz (43rd/21:00.5) rounded out the Rockets' scoring.
"I thought on a good day our women could have finished as high as second," Head Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough said. "We definitely will get better as the season goes on, especially at our 4/5 spot. We had great races out of our 1,2,3 and a super day by the back of our lineup in 6-8 spots. There's lots to feel good about, but lots to build on too. We can see the areas we can get better for the championship segment of our season."
The Toledo men placed 16th with 357 pts., finishing ahead of No. 23 Air Force and No. 26 Louisville. UT was just four points behind No. 20 Georgia.
Senior Joad Martinho led the way with his 10th-place showing in a time of 23:58.4. Senior Loann Brelivet finished 34th (24:20.9), with junior Patrick Kiprop (58th/24:34.0), senior Sibonelo Khumalo (25:10.3), and junior Ronnie Neal (25:30.0) completing the Rockets' scoring.
"Our men had a solid day especially up front," Grove-McDonough said. "We had a great day from our 1-2. Loann had the best race of his collegiate career. It's obvious we need Eloshas in our lineup who will be a great up front runner with Joad. We have some work to do in the back of the lineup, but we know those guys have the runway they need to get there."
Toledo will be idle next weekend and return to competition on Friday, Oct. 2 at Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational.
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. No. 8 Northern Arizona - 61 pts.
2. No. 20 Utah – 107 pts.
3. No. 21 Washington State – 121 pts.
4. No. 25 TOLEDO – 124 pts.
5. No. 14 Florida – 156 pts.
6. No. 22 Washington – 176 pts.
7. No. 28 Boston College – 217 pts.
8. Eastern Kentucky – 248 pts.
9. Michigan State – 267 pts.
10. Louisville – 280 pts.
11. Utah Valley – 284 pts.
12. Indiana – 311 pts.
13. Georgia – 335 pts.
14. Air Force – 358 pts.
15. Harvard – 406 pts.
16. Wisconsin – 422 pts.
17. California Baptist – 481 pts.
18. Indiana State – 513 pts.
19. Weber State – 559 pts.
20. Purdue – 567 pts.
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
8. Purity Chepkirui – 20:03.3
15. Melody Jebiwot – 20:19.7
16. Dorcas Kiptanui – 20:20.5
42. Karina James – 21:00.0
43. Lianna Surtz – 21:00.5
51. Bella Earl – 21:10.5
79. Cadence Christie – 21:34.5
82. Lillian Dicola – 21:35.3
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. No. 9 BYU – 71 pts.
2. No. 21 Florida – 119 pts.
3. Washington – 190 pts.
4. No. 27 Stanford – 205 pts.
5. No. 11 Washington State – 212 pts.
6. No. 17 Michigan State – 212 pts.
7. No. 7 Northern Arizona – 232 pts.
8. Utah Valley – 265 pts.
9. No. 10 Wisconsin – 267 pts.
10. No. 16 Butler – 275 pts.
11. No. 19 Harvard – 277 pts.
12. No. 12 Eastern Kentucky – 312 pts.
13. No. 13 Utah State – 328 pts.
14. No. 24 California Baptist – 338 pts.
15. No. 20 Georgia – 353 pts.
16. TOLEDO – 357 pts.
17. Portland – 390 pts.
18. No. 26 Louisville – 407 pts.
19. Navy – 487 pts.
20. No. 23 Air Force – 499 pts.
21. Purdue – 572 pts.
22. Weber State – 660 pts.
23. Indiana – 669 pts.
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
10. Joad Martinho – 23:58.4
34. Loann Brelivet – 24:20.9
58. Patrick Kiprop – 24:34.0
117. Sibonelo Khumalo – 25:10.3
150. Ronnie Neal – 25:30.0
155. Peter McMahon – 25:35.6
190. Joshuah Taylor – 26:16.7
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women'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 Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross CountryFriday, May 30
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