Saka, Smith Earn Indoor Track Honors
Mar 10, 2009 | General, Track & Field
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Sprinter #Pinar Saka and UNO track and field coach Steve Smith# earned separate regional and league honors it was announced on Monday. Saka was named the South Central Region Athlete of the Year while Smith earn women's indoor Coach of the Year honors from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Saka scored an impressive 30.5 points at the MIAA Championship meet in late February. She leads Division II in both the 200 meters (24.23) and 400 meters (53.34). The native of Istanbul, Turkey is a member of UNO's 4x440 meter relay team which is ranked fourth in Division II. She owns school records in the 200, 400 and 600 yard dashes.
Saka has twice been named MIAA indoor track athlete of the week and recently competed for her native country in the European World Championships in Italy.
Smith, in his third season leading the Mavericks, guided his squad to a win in its first appearance at the MIAA indoor meet.
UNO's win in the mile relay capped a come-from-behind victory over defending champion Missouri Southern, 94-92.5. The Mavericks had scoring depth in the sprints, getting a 1-2 finish in the 60 meters -- led by freshman #Maja Mihalinec#.
Mihalinec (60m), Saka (200m & 400m), sophomore #Anja Puc# (800m) and junior #Shannon Moore# (pentathlon) will be competing in individual events at nationals, while sophomores #Kayla Koepke and Jolene Smith# will join Saka and Puc on the Mavs' 1600-meter relay team in the meet.
Smith was the 2007 North Central Conference Indoor Track Coach of the Year in his first season at UNO.
