MEQUON. – The Carthage women's cross country team opened its 2026 season with a third-place finish at the Ken Weidt Classic on Saturday morning on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin. The Firebirds scored 60 points across the women's 6,000-meter race, finishing behind meet champion Wis.-Whitewater (34) and Wis.-Parkside (42).


 
Carthage scored 60 points to finish third overall, with Wis.-Whitewater taking the team title at 34 points. Wis.-Parkside finished second with 42 points, while Concordia (Wis.) (120), Indiana Northwest (127), Moody Bible Institute (166), Mount Mary (230), and Alverno (240) rounded out the field.
 

 
Senior Kylie Florance led the Firebirds in the season opener, placing seventh overall in 24:35.7. Senior Liliana Bednarek followed in eighth at 24:40.9, while freshman Morgan Capriola made her collegiate debut with a 10th-place finish in 25:00.2. Senior Allison Hunt finished 18th in 25:31.8, and junior Kristin Farabaugh rounded out Carthage's scoring five in 22nd at 26:01.2.



"The team has been working hard and we had a decent first-meet showing today," said Head Coach Stephanie Domin. "I am excited about the strength and depth of this team. It is early in the season and we are looking to progress each week."
 


The Firebirds return to action on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the St. Olaf Invitational in Northfield, Minn. The women's race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.