Kertesz
She was named to the Ekiden Relay Team following her fourth-place finish with a new personal-record time of 32:51 at the USA 10K Championships in Boston last month.
Kertesz becomes the second Rocket to represent the USA at an international event this year. Last spring, former All-American Ari Fisher, who graduated in May, ran at the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association Cross Country Championships in Trinidad, helping the USA team win a gold medal.
Former Toledo All-American Briana Shook, a 2004 UT graduate, was the first Rocket to run on the USA Road Relay Team. The former American record holder helped lead USA to a bronze medal at the Ekiden Relay in Beijing in 2004.
“This is a huge opportunity for Emma,” Toledo Director of Track and Cross Country Kevin Hadsell said. “We took our time this fall and summer to get to another level and it is really paying off. I feel like we saved a lot of hard work for the next semester, as her track seasons could go deep into the summer.”
The Ekiden Relay Championship is held over the course of a marathon as each country sends one mixed team of men and women. Kertesz, who is eligible for the indoor and outdoor track seasons, is the only collegian on the USA team.
Professional runners Chelsea Reilly and Neeley Spence are the other two women selected. The women will run the 5,000-meter legs while the men run the longer legs.
”Anytime we have the chance for our athletes to represent their country while still a student-athlete representing The University of Toledo is special,” Hadsell said. “Emma is really making a nice name for herself, and I am excited to see how this all translates to the indoor and outdoor track seasons.”
