UT women easily win MAC cross country title

10/28/2012

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — The 20th-ranked University of Toledo women's cross country team ran to its third straight Mid-American Conference championship in historic fashion Saturday at Beaver Island State Park.

The Rockets dominated despite the harsh weather conditions with a record-breaking score of 24 points, eclipsing their mark of 33 points set in last year's championship race.

Eight of the nine UT runners earned All-MAC honors, while Kevin Hadsell was named the MAC coach of the year for the fifth time in his career and third straight. The Rockets have won five MAC titles and became the first school to win three consecutive crowns since Ohio won five straight (1987 to 1992).

The Rockets will run in the NCAA regional Nov. 11 and are seeking their third straight NCAA championship meet bid.

Senior Kaylin Belair and sophomores Megan Wright and Liz Weiler led the Rockets with a two-three-four finish. Belair ran a 5:41 mile pace and finished 20 seconds behind Ohio's Julie Accurso at 21:08.7. Wright and Weiler recorded times of 21:20.5 and 21:24.9, respectively.

In the men's race, Toledo tallied 186 points to finish in eighth place. Senior Elliot Livensparger placed 23rd overall with a mark of 25:33.2.