Cubbison and Hoover Win Gold, Franklin Sets Two Program Records at MACs

Saturday, May 16

9 a.m.

Bowling Green State University

MAC Outdoor Championships

Cubbison and Hoover Win Gold, Franklin Sets Two Program Records at MACs

May 17, 2026 | Women's Track and Field

Results

By: by Sam Watson, BGSU Strategic Communications

MUNCIE, Ind. – Bowling Green concluded the MAC Championships on Saturday with a 56-point final day, capped by back-to-back gold medals in the distance events and a pair of program records in the sprints.

The Falcons finished seventh as a team with 63 points, but head coach Lou Snelling saw much to build on.

"There were moments, particularly today, where we had some good momentum and showed a lot of grit," Snelling said. "We competed really well. There were moments earlier this weekend where we dug ourselves a bit of a hole going into the final day. You really can't do that and expect the team success to happen. You can't start Saturday with seven points, that's just not the formula. We had a lot of good things happen today, but we need three days of good things happening."

The day's tone was set in the 1,500-meter final, where Kylee Cubbison and Rachael Hoover raced through 1,100 meters before the senior made her move. Cubbison trailed around the first curve, then surged on the final lap to cross first in 4:20.85. It was her second consecutive and third total MAC title in the event.

Hoover, a sophomore who entered as the top seed in the 800 meters, also reached the podium in the 1,500 before delivering her signature performance of the championships. She led wire-to-wire in the 800, fending off the field down the stretch to finish in 2:08.01. She claimed her first MAC title of her career and secured BGSU's first conference title in the 800 since 1981.

"Those were two really exciting moments we should be very proud of," Snelling said. "There were a lot of other moments today. You look at Kiersten and her school records, some of the relay work that was done. There were a lot of good individual moments today. But those MAC championships individually are special."

Cubbison added to her day with a fifth-place finish in the 5,000 meters (16:30.87). Regina Rose, who also competed in the 10,000 meters on Thursday, followed at 17:11.19.

Kiersten Franklin capped her Bowling Green career with a performance for the record books. The senior broke the program record in both the 100 meters (11.53) and 200 meters (23.53), finishing fifth and third, respectively.

"She is very decorated and has contributed so much in a short time here," Snelling said. "We will deeply miss her, along with the 16 others we honored at the graduation reception. She just ran so well this weekend. On a broader scale, it speaks to the level the conference is at right now. Most events are at a historic level, which is something we embrace. It's an opportunity for us to get better."

Franklin was part of a 4x100-meter relay group that also reached the podium. She joined Reagan Campbell, Morgan Patterson and Kiera Bonds for a third-place finish in 45.77 seconds, after Kent State and Akron were disqualified.

Campbell also impressed individually in the 400-meter dash, running 54.29 seconds to place seventh, which was the third-fastest time in program history.

Patterson, who entered Friday's 100-meter hurdles as the 12th seed with a 14-second mark, surpassed expectations with a fourth-place finish in 13.85 seconds, worth five team points.

The day closed with the 4x400-meter relay, where Tyetta Herman, Campbell, Franklin and Alexsia Davis combined the third-fastest time in program history at 3:42.41. The quartet finished fourth and earned five points.

The field began with the discus throw, where freshman Natalie Vrancken led the Falcons with a mark of 41.95 meters. Sierra Brinson (41.44m), Emma Hoffman (39.19m) and Sierra Podolan (38.41m) followed.

Bianca Staples earned three points in the triple jump with a sixth-place effort of 12.63 meters. Sabrina Imes leaped 12.15 meters, and Bonds reached 12.08 meters.

Despite the seventh-place team finish, Snelling expressed optimism about the program's direction, pointing to the performances of several underclassmen throughout the three-day meet.

"You see a lot of underclassmen success and the writing on the wall for their development and what they're going to be able to contribute the next couple of years, so that's exciting," he said. "Obviously, we have to walk away from today and this weekend hungry and motivated. We must be willing to put in the hard work in the next year to come back to this meet for the team moment we want to have."