EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Four Mid-American Conference student-athletes have earned their way onto the national stage after standout performances at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship, each securing a spot in the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Toledo’s Joad Martinho raced his way to nationals with a fifth-place finish in the men’s 10K, crossing in a career-best 29:50.85. His effort capped a breakout season and added All-Region honors, becoming just the fifth Rocket ever to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Akron delivered three more MAC qualifiers, beginning with freshman Mercy Jebitok, who stormed to sixth place in the women’s 6K with a personal-best 20:02.73. Her performance marks the Zips’ first NCAA women’s qualifier since 2004 and earns her a place among the top distance runners in program history.

On the men’s side, Akron’s Bismack Kipchirchir and Titus Kirui both punched their tickets to Columbia with impressive All-Region finishes. Kipchirchir placed sixth in 29:54.83, becoming the first Akron runner to qualify in back-to-back seasons. Kirui followed with a career-best 30:02.92 for 11th overall - one of the fastest regional times ever recorded by a Zip.

The four MAC standouts will now represent the conference at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships, hosted by Missouri at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Saturday, Nov. 22. The women’s 6K begins at 10:20 a.m. ET, followed by the men’s 10K at 11:10 a.m.