Maverick Track and Field Heads West
Feb 11, 2010 | General, Track & Field
Weekly Release
The Week Ahead: The third-ranked University of Nebraska at Omaha track and field team competes in two meets this week. The Mavericks will take part in the Husky Classic hosted by the University of Washington on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 and 13. The action begins on Friday at 9 p.m. CT and continues the next day at 10:30 a.m. CT. The Mavs also will compete in the Wildcat Open at Wayne State on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
The Coaches: Steve Smith is in his fourth season as the head coach of the University of Nebraska at Omaha track program after more than two decades of success as an assistant in Kansas, Lincoln and at UNO. Smith was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Assocation Indoor Coach of the Year after guiding the Mavericks to a stunning win in the 2009 MIAA Indoor Championships in March. UNO finished the season fifth in the nation indoors. Smith is assisted by #Chris Richardson# (jumps and pentathlon/heptathlon), John Mulligan (distances) and Rich Emsick (throws).
Great Debut: #Nkeiruka Domike# made her UNO debut in stunning fashion, setting a school record in the triple jump in her first try at the event indoors. The Nigerian native posted a jump of 41 feet, six inches at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite on Feb. 6, breaking the old school mark of 40 feet, nine and three-quarter inches set in 2005. Her performance was also the top jump in Division II this season. For her efforts, she was named the MIAA's Field athlete of the week.
Setting A High Standard: Shot putter #Heather Minssen# has owned the top national mark in the shot put since the beginning of the season. Minssen threw 49' 2 1/4” to reset her own school record and personal best on Jan. 23 at the Iowa State Invitational. She has already automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship and has thrown more than four inches farther than the second-place throw by Rebecca Stier of Winona State.
Another Standard Bearer: Junior #Anja Puc# set the top mark in the nation in the 800 meters in her first time running the event this season. Puc ran 2:09.79 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite on Feb. 6, just missing her own school record of 2:09.44. She was named the MIAA's Track athlete of the week for her performance. It's her second award this season. She also earned it after she set a new school record in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:54.57 at the Holiday Inn Invitational on Jan. 15. That broke the old record by more than two seconds.
Other Qualifiers: UNO has several qualifiers for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Senior #Shannon Moore# has qualified for the pentathlon and the 60 meter hurdles. Sophomore #Maja Mihalinec# has already qualified in the 200 meters and in the 60 meters. Junior #Kayla Koepke# has qualified in the 400 meters. UNO's 4 x 400 meter relay team of Koepke, Mihalinec, Puc and Moore also has qualified for the nation meet.
What's Next: The Mavericks will compete in the Nebraska Tune-Up on Friday, Feb. 19 in Lincoln. It will be their final meet before the MIAA Indoor Championship.
The Week Ahead: The third-ranked University of Nebraska at Omaha track and field team competes in two meets this week. The Mavericks will take part in the Husky Classic hosted by the University of Washington on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 and 13. The action begins on Friday at 9 p.m. CT and continues the next day at 10:30 a.m. CT. The Mavs also will compete in the Wildcat Open at Wayne State on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
The Coaches: Steve Smith is in his fourth season as the head coach of the University of Nebraska at Omaha track program after more than two decades of success as an assistant in Kansas, Lincoln and at UNO. Smith was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Assocation Indoor Coach of the Year after guiding the Mavericks to a stunning win in the 2009 MIAA Indoor Championships in March. UNO finished the season fifth in the nation indoors. Smith is assisted by #Chris Richardson# (jumps and pentathlon/heptathlon), John Mulligan (distances) and Rich Emsick (throws).
Great Debut: #Nkeiruka Domike# made her UNO debut in stunning fashion, setting a school record in the triple jump in her first try at the event indoors. The Nigerian native posted a jump of 41 feet, six inches at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite on Feb. 6, breaking the old school mark of 40 feet, nine and three-quarter inches set in 2005. Her performance was also the top jump in Division II this season. For her efforts, she was named the MIAA's Field athlete of the week.
Setting A High Standard: Shot putter #Heather Minssen# has owned the top national mark in the shot put since the beginning of the season. Minssen threw 49' 2 1/4” to reset her own school record and personal best on Jan. 23 at the Iowa State Invitational. She has already automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship and has thrown more than four inches farther than the second-place throw by Rebecca Stier of Winona State.
Another Standard Bearer: Junior #Anja Puc# set the top mark in the nation in the 800 meters in her first time running the event this season. Puc ran 2:09.79 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite on Feb. 6, just missing her own school record of 2:09.44. She was named the MIAA's Track athlete of the week for her performance. It's her second award this season. She also earned it after she set a new school record in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:54.57 at the Holiday Inn Invitational on Jan. 15. That broke the old record by more than two seconds.
Other Qualifiers: UNO has several qualifiers for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Senior #Shannon Moore# has qualified for the pentathlon and the 60 meter hurdles. Sophomore #Maja Mihalinec# has already qualified in the 200 meters and in the 60 meters. Junior #Kayla Koepke# has qualified in the 400 meters. UNO's 4 x 400 meter relay team of Koepke, Mihalinec, Puc and Moore also has qualified for the nation meet.
What's Next: The Mavericks will compete in the Nebraska Tune-Up on Friday, Feb. 19 in Lincoln. It will be their final meet before the MIAA Indoor Championship.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
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Sprints
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