KENT, OH - Sophomore Ari Fisher (Lebanon, OH) made her indoor track debut one to remember as she won the 5000 meter run to lead the Rockets in day one action at the Golden Flash Gala.

Fisher, the MAC Cross Country champion and NCAA qualifier, claimed the title in a time of 16:48.66, over 20 seconds better than second place. Her mark is the fastest in the country to date and the fifth-fastest in school-history, and is also less than five seconds away from an NCAA qualifying time (16:44.20). She was competing for the first time this season, and in addition to the MAC title, also won two other individual titles in cross country this fall.

"Ari is very fit right now," said head coach Kevin Hadsell. "She ran a very solid race for not having done much work since the NCAA Cross Country Championships. That's a very good opener." 

Meanwhile, freshman Kiah Douglas (Saginaw, MI) and junior Alex Afloari (Deva, Romania) went three-four in the long jump. Douglas had a jump of 18-02.50 and Afloari checked in at 18-00.50.

Sophomore Julie Snyder (Celina, OH) finished third in the pentathlon, as she racked up 3,313 points. She had the third-best time in the 60 hurdles (9.08) and was fifth in the high jump (5-04.25) and long jump (16-07.75).

"This was a very good first day for us," Hadsell said. "We struggled a little on the runway with the long jump, but these early-season meets are more for training than anything else.

The Rockets conclude action tomorrow, starting at 11 a.m. with the high jump and wrapping up at 7 p.m. with the 4x400 relay.

Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu