October 16, 2021 | by Taylor Pill

STORY

APPLETON, Wis. -- Both Maranatha Cross Country Teams reaped the rewards of their training today, as season-best times abounded at the Wisconsin Private College Championships. Both teams finished 8th/10 in their respective fields, and each team knocked almost five minutes off their best team time in the 2021 season.

In the Men's 8K, the Sabercats ran season-best times almost entirely across the board. Jeremy Fopma broke into the top five to finish as a 1st-Team All-Wisconsin recipient, breaking below the 26-minute mark for the first time this season with a 25:52 8K. Behind Fopma, the rest of the squad showed tremendous promise, as almost every runner set their season-best time and many closed in on their collegiate PR's. Jonathan Gilliam met the individual qualifying time for NCCAA Nationals with 33:56, even though the team locked in their spot at the season finale in the first meet of the season. The St. Norbert Green Knights ran away with the best team score with just 56 points. Carroll University's Spencer Kirsteatter beat everyone with an 8K of 25:20.

Abby Doak moved into 7th all-time in program history for 6K, running a personal-best 25:44 for the distance. Sierra John moved into 13th in the program Top 20 with 26:49, and Lydia Neubert, Abby Gilliam, Kate Nutzhorn, Ashley Brungard, and Melissa Shetter all set PRs in their young careers. Lawrence University defended their stomping grounds with a team score of 58 points, as the Vikings' Cristyn Oliver ran a 6K in 22:28 to win the women's race.

OVERVIEW

• Event: Wisconsin Private College Championships (Appleton, Wisconsin/Reid Municipal Golf Course)
• Men's Finish: 8th/10 - 211 points
• Team Time: 2:28:13
• First Runner: 5th - Jeremy Fopma - 25:52 (8K)
• Women's Finish: 8th/10 - 242 points
• Team Time: 2:17:34
• First Runner: 31st - Abigail Doak - 25:44 (6K)
• Host: Lawrence University

SOUND BITE

"Today was the most competitive we [have been] from top to bottom," said Head Coach John Warnke. "We had an intensity about their races and worked together well as a team. It was also the most cohesive our team has looked from the warmup to the races to the cooldown - everything was just clicking as a team. We still have a ways to go in terms of race strategy and intensity in the second half of the race. Just knowing when to push and when to rest and find those appropriate moments to attack."

RESULTS (Men's 8K)

• 5th - Jeremy Fopma - 25:52#
• 44th - Jordan Hoffmann - 29:26
• 51st - Josiah Cochran - 30:28
• 54th - Jefferson Rupert - 31:07
• 57th - Drew Smith - 31:20
• (60th) - David Dorothy - 32:57
• (63rd) - Jonathan Gilliam - 33:56+
• -- Nathan Terry - 36:34
• -- Felipe Diaz - 38:03
• -- Jeremiah Markle - 39:04
• -- Curtis Fink - 48:02*

RESULTS (Women's 6K)

• 31st - Abigail Doak - 25:44*^#
• 47th - Sierra John - 26:49*^#
• 51st - Lydia Neubert - 28:00*^
• 53rd - Katie Jean Lingle - 28:19^
• 60th - Abby Gilliam - 28:42*^
• (65th) - Katelynn Nutzhorn - 29:35*^
• (66th) - Ashley Brungard - 29:40*+
• -- Taylor Ellis - 32:59
• -- Melissa Shetter - 35:04*
• -- Kaitlyn Mayer - 38:56

*Personal Record :: #Program Top-20 finish :: +Qualified for NCCAA Nationals :: ^Already Qualified for NCCAA Nationals

NEXT

The Sabercats' next meet will be next Saturday, October 23 at the NCCAA North Region Championships hosted by Faith Baptist Bible College. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.