EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Junior Karina James earned a 13th-place individual finish to lead the Rockets to a third-place team finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship in Evansville, Ind. on Friday.
The third-place finish ties the program’s best finish in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional event. The Rockets earned third-place finishes in 2010, 2011 and 2024. This is the sixth time in program history that the squad has placed within the top five competing teams.
Toledo totaled 104 points to place third, just nine points behind No. 25 Wisconsin which took second and three points ahead of No. 23 Michigan State in fourth. The Rockets finished ahead of all other Mid-American Conference teams who competed, as well as six ‘Power 4’ opponents including Cincinnati, Michigan and Ohio State.
James tallied a final time of 20:22.86, a career-best, to take 13th. Hannah Ielfield followed behind, placing 19th with a mark of 20:29.62. Lianna Surtz (22nd/20:30.60), Melody Jebiwot (26th/20:36.07) and Winny Kosgei (29th/20:47.77) rounded out the scoring for the Rockets.
James, Ielfield and Surtz all earned All-Region honors for finishing within the top 25 individual finishers, a first for all three Rockets.
Quoting Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Andrea Grove-McDonough
“Today was an incredible day for the entire Toledo program, our both men and women. For our women, who were picked to finish seventh in the region at the start of the season, to come out third today was such a testament to who they are. We were so close to a massive upset over Wisconsin, just nine points, and hanging on to finish just ahead of Michigan State took some huge races from our women. We will wait to learn our fate for an at-large bid into the NCAA Championships, but no matter the outcome I am leaving here filled with pride and a little bit in awe of these men and women. They always believed in themselves, in each other and in us and that’s what was on display out there today.”
Up Next
Toledo will find out if it received an at-large bid to the NCAA National Championship race at the NCAA Cross Country Selection Show on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 5:00 p.m. (live on NCAA.com). The NCAA National Championship race will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo.
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2025 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship
Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 | Evansville, Ind.
Women’s 6K
Team Results
1. No. 5 Notre Dame – 22 points
2. No. 25 Wisconsin – 95 points
3. Toledo – 104 points
4. No. 23 Michigan State – 107 points
5. Cincinnati – 149 points
6. Bowling Green – 164 points
7. Michigan – 235 points
8. Ohio – 263 points
9. Indiana State – 281 points
10. Ohio State – 294 points
11. Indiana – 329 points
12. Miami – 379 points
13. Xavier – 436 points
14. Central Michigan – 448 points
15. Western Michigan – 450 points
16. Youngstown State – 461 points
17. Butler – 461 points
18. Purdue – 540 points
19. Southern Indiana – 545 points
20. Purdue Fort Wayne – 585 points
21. Dayton – 596 points
22. Oakland – 621 points
23. Milwaukee – 672 points
24. Valparaiso – 701 points
25. Eastern Michigan – 751 points
26. Cleveland State – 773 points
27. IU Indy – 783 points
28. Marquette – 809 points
29. Green Bay – 811 points
30. Detroit Mercy – 875 points
31. Wright State – 893 points
32. Evansville – 929 points
Toledo Individuals
13. Karina James – 20:22.86 **career-best
19. Hannah Ielfield – 20:29.62
22. Lianna Surtz – 20:30.60
26. Melody Jebiwot – 20:36.07
29. Winny Kosgei – 20:47.77 **career-best
41. Dorcas Jeptoo Kiptanui – 21:02.99
53. Bailey Ranta – 212:12.47
This article was published by UT Rockets on 2025-11-14 14:05:00
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