UNO Cross Country Begins New Season Saturday
Sep 4, 2009 | Cross Country
OMAHA, Neb. - With only three returning runners, the UNO cross country team will look to build off a young roster in 2009. The Mavericks will be freshman driven following the lead of junior #Lisa Tesarek and sophomore runners Jolene Smith and Cara Kunneman# as they begin their season on Saturday, Sept. 5 with the UNO/Creighton Classic at the Chili Greens complex. The meet begins at 8 a.m., and admission is free.
Tesarek competed in four of the five meets in 2008 and finished 16th at the Creighton/UNO Classic with a time of 16:21. She will look to play a large leadership role for the Mavericks as the lone upper classman.
Kunneman had a strong freshman campaign while competing in every meet for the Mavs. Her best finishes include placing 33rd with a time of 16:32 at the University of Central Missouri Open (4k) and 23rd with a time of 20:06 at the Jock's Nitch Invitational in Emporia Kan. (5k).
Smith rounds out the group of returners from the 2008 squad. Her best run came in the University of Central Missouri Classic (4k) as she finished 66th with a time of 18:02. With her solid performances in 2008, Smith should be a strong competitor for the Mavs.
The Mavericks have a large first-year class with five true freshman and another redshirt. Three of those freshmen hail from the Omaha area including Central High School's Linda Hannah, Millard North's #Megan Oddo and Millard West's Brittany Phillips#. #Nicole Behm is a freshman from North Platte while Zenah Chepkwony# has come to Omaha from perhaps a greater distance than any UNO athlete – Eldoret, Kenya. Sophomore transfer Dina Luka from Park University completes the class of newcomers.
The Mavericks will have plenty to prove when the 2009 season begins. The annual Mid-America Athletics Association pre-season poll of coaches had UNO ninth in the conference.
Coach Steve Smith enters his fourth season heading the cross country and track programs at UNO. Last year, he was named MIAA indoor coach of the year after guiding the Mavericks to the league's indoor title.
Second-year assistant coach John Mulligan is primarily responsible for cross country. He achieved a national ranking status in the 20K, half marathon, and 30K and was ranked in the top 100 in the world by Runner's Magazine in 1981.
Following the season opener, the Mavs will then travel to Lincoln, Neb. for the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational on September 19 at Pioneer Park.
In October, the team heads to Emporia, Kan. for the Emporia State Cross Country Invite on October 2 at Jones Park followed by a trip to Sioux Falls, S.D. for the Briar Cliff Invitational October 10 at the Adams Nature Preserve. To wrap up the season, the Mavs will return to Emporia for the MIAA championships October 24 at Jones Park.
Tesarek competed in four of the five meets in 2008 and finished 16th at the Creighton/UNO Classic with a time of 16:21. She will look to play a large leadership role for the Mavericks as the lone upper classman.
Kunneman had a strong freshman campaign while competing in every meet for the Mavs. Her best finishes include placing 33rd with a time of 16:32 at the University of Central Missouri Open (4k) and 23rd with a time of 20:06 at the Jock's Nitch Invitational in Emporia Kan. (5k).
Smith rounds out the group of returners from the 2008 squad. Her best run came in the University of Central Missouri Classic (4k) as she finished 66th with a time of 18:02. With her solid performances in 2008, Smith should be a strong competitor for the Mavs.
The Mavericks have a large first-year class with five true freshman and another redshirt. Three of those freshmen hail from the Omaha area including Central High School's Linda Hannah, Millard North's #Megan Oddo and Millard West's Brittany Phillips#. #Nicole Behm is a freshman from North Platte while Zenah Chepkwony# has come to Omaha from perhaps a greater distance than any UNO athlete – Eldoret, Kenya. Sophomore transfer Dina Luka from Park University completes the class of newcomers.
The Mavericks will have plenty to prove when the 2009 season begins. The annual Mid-America Athletics Association pre-season poll of coaches had UNO ninth in the conference.
Coach Steve Smith enters his fourth season heading the cross country and track programs at UNO. Last year, he was named MIAA indoor coach of the year after guiding the Mavericks to the league's indoor title.
Second-year assistant coach John Mulligan is primarily responsible for cross country. He achieved a national ranking status in the 20K, half marathon, and 30K and was ranked in the top 100 in the world by Runner's Magazine in 1981.
Following the season opener, the Mavs will then travel to Lincoln, Neb. for the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational on September 19 at Pioneer Park.
In October, the team heads to Emporia, Kan. for the Emporia State Cross Country Invite on October 2 at Jones Park followed by a trip to Sioux Falls, S.D. for the Briar Cliff Invitational October 10 at the Adams Nature Preserve. To wrap up the season, the Mavs will return to Emporia for the MIAA championships October 24 at Jones Park.
Players Mentioned
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/ Cross Country
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/ Cross Country
Throws
/ Track & Field
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/ Cross Country
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/ Cross Country
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/ Cross Country
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/ Cross Country
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/ Cross CountryWednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
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