September 2, 2022 | by Ashley Nerat 

STORY

ELMHURST, Ill. -- The 2022 season kicked off with the Elmhurst Earlybird Invitational.  Runners are unable to qualify for nationals as this was a shortened race with a Men's 6k and a Women's 4k. Still, it was a nice race to get our new and returning runners back into the swing of things.  The Maranatha men's team finished 7th out of 9 and the women finished last.  

Jeremy Fopma led the pack for the men, finishing 13th with a time of 19:59 (5:22/mile). North Central (Ill.) finished things strong having a total of 7 runners placing in the top 10 and clinching the 1st and 2nd place spots (Hallbrader, Neilbel). The NCAA Dlll school finished first with just 21 points.

Amber Brungard, a first-year runner for the Sabercats, took point for the ladies. She finished 54th with a time of 19:45 (7:57/mile). The women have a fairly young squad this year, with only 4 out of their last year's 11 runners returning.  Carthage's Claire Guenther took first for the ladies with a time of 15:52 (6:23/mile).  Her school took home the gold with just 32 points.

OVERVIEW

• Event: Elmhurst Earlybird Invitational (Elmhurst, Ill./Elmhurst College)
• Men's Finish: 7th of 9 / 194 pts 
• First Runner: Jeremy Fopma - 13th - 19:59 (6k)
• Women's Finish: 8th of 8 / 203 pts
• First Runner: Amber Brungard - 54th - 19:45 (4k)
• Host: Elmhurst College

RESULTS (Men's 6K)

• 13th - Jeremy Fopma (19:59)
• 86th - Shem Abdnour (23:48)
• 91st - David Dorothy (24:04)
• 100th - Josiah Cochran (25:12)
• 106th - Felipe Diaz (26:51)
• 110th - Jim Stille (27:40)
• 115th - Curtis Fink (28:53)
• 118th - Jeremiah Markle (36:17)

RESULTS (Women's 4K)

• 54th - Amber Brungard (19:45)
• 56th - Anna Morken (20:00)
• 65th - Kate Nutzhorn (21:36)
• 78th - Taylor Ellis (25:18)
• 81st - Michal Wagner (27:13)

*Season-best Time :: +Qualified for NCCAA Nationals :: #Program Top 10

NEXT

The Sabercats' next meet will be the Tom Hoffman Invitational in Whitewater, Wis. on September 17. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.