Rockets competing at Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich.

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's cross country team will look to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history when it competes at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship on Friday, Nov. 13 in East Lansing, Mich. The 10K race at Forest Akers East Golf Course is set to begin at 11 a.m.

The top two teams in each regional meet will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind. An additional 14 schools will be selected from the nine regions as at-large teams. The top four individuals crossing the finish line and the top two at-large racers not competing on a team will also advance to the national championship.

The men won their third consecutive Mid-American Conference title on Oct. 30 in Kalamazoo, Mich. Junior Patrick Kipropcaptured the individual title and was followed by senior Joad Martinho in second place with freshman Eloshas Kipkirui placing third for a clean sweep of the podium for the Rockets.

Kiprop, Martinho, and Kipkirui along with junior Loann Brelivet each received First Team All-MAC honors. Senior Sibonelo Khumalo was named to the Second-Team All-MAC squad. Kipkirui also became the second Rocket in program history to receive MAC Freshman of the Year honors.

Martinho qualified for the NCAA Championships as an individual last year after placing fifth in the Great Lakes Regional in Evansville, Ind.

An individual qualifier for the men would mark the third-straight year that a Rocket has individually qualified for the NCAA Championships, a feat that has only been accomplished by the program once before (1973-75).

Toledo placed seventh in last year's Great Lakes Regional for its highest finish in program history.