September 9, 2023 | by Ashley Nerat 

STORY

MEQUON, Wis. -- The Maranatha cross country teams started their season off this morning at the Ken Weidt Classic. Andrew Centifanto, Curtis Fink, Anna Morkin, and Natalie Shetter, all four punched their tickets to the NCCAA National Championship. 

To qualify for the National Championship, men needed to finish the 8K within a cutoff time of 34:00, while women needed to hit the 5K mark within the 24:30 cutoff time.

The women finished sixth out of eight while the men pulled up in last. Despite the overall team finishes, Maranatha still had a lot to be proud of this early in the season.

Centifanto led the Sabercats on the guy's side, coming in 20th out of 33 with a time of 32:55. Chase Upmann of Carthage College took home the gold on the day, finishing with a time of 25:43.

For the girls, returner Anna Morken had a good start to the season, finishing 24th of 53 with a time of 27:58 (6K). Coming in first, with an impressive time of 22:49, was Emma Ahrens of Concordia University. 

OVERVIEW

• Event: Ken Weidt Classic (Mequon, Wis./Concordia-Wisconsin)
• Men's Finish: 5th of 5 / 128 pts 
• First Runner: Andrew Centifanto - 20th - 32:55 (8k)
• Women's Finish: 6th of 8 / 165 pts
• First Runner: Anna Morkin - 24th - 27:58 (6k)
• Host: Concordia University-Wisconsin

RESULTS (Men's 8K)

• 20th - Andrew Centifanto (32:55)+
• 21st - Curtis Fink (33:15)+
• 26th - Felipe Diaz (34:57)
• 30th - Richard VanNewkirk (37:44)
• 31st - Blake Rumford - (41:15)
• 32nd - Jonathan Knight - (46:44)
• 33rd - Jeremiah Markle - (48:45)

RESULTS (Women's 6K)

• 24th - Anna Morken (27:58)+
• 26th - Natalie Shetter (28:10)+
• 36th - Lauren Youngs (32:08)
• 39th - Hailee Butler(32:44)
• 40th - Hannah Hartfelder (32:53)

*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 16. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.