Omaha
NCAA Division II Indoor Championships
Mihalinec Sets School Record at Indoor Nationals
Mar 12, 2010 | General, Track & Field
Results
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – UNO's #Maja Mihalinec# set a new school record in the 60 meter dash to lead the UNO track and field team into the finals of the NCAA Division-II Indoor Championships. All five runners qualified for the finals on the first day of competition with two field athletes yet to compete.
Mihalinec advanced to the finals in both the 60 and 200 meter events with times of 7.49 and 24.24 respectively. Her 60 meter time was a new school record, while her 200 finish was just over a half second from breaking senior Pinar Saka's 2009 indoor school record of 23.93.
Previously ranked 13th nationally in the 60 meters, Mihalinec took sixth place in the event. In the 200 meter, Mihalinec advanced to the finals with an eighth place finish, edged by Lincoln, Mo., runner Nyoka Cole at 24.20.
“In these meets every team brings their best,” said head coach Steve Smith. “These girls are learning how to compete with ice water in their veins and it's showing in the way they are competing out there.”
Junior #Anja Puc# retained her number one ranking in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:13.50. Puc will compete on Saturday in both the 800 meter finals and as a member of UNO's 4x400 meter relay team.
In the 400 meter event, junior #Kayla Koepke# tied Cole for fifth place, posting a personal best time of 55.45, eclipsing her previous best mark by more than a second.
Senior #Shannon Moore# advanced to the finals in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.62. Moore will also represent UNO in the pentathlon where she currently is ranked third in the nation.
“These girls just put several teams' All-Americans onto the sidelines for tomorrow's finals,” said Smith. “With a minimal number of qualifiers to advance, you have to step up. Some of these girls were on the outside looking in and caught fire again.”
Triple jumper #Nkeiruka Domike and shot putter Heather Minssen# will compete for the first time on Saturday. Domike's distance of 42 feet and one-half inch leads all national qualifiers by more than a foot, while Minssen is currently ranked third in the shot put. The Mavs also will run Puc, Koepke, Mihalinec and Moore in the 4x400 meter relay.
The Mavericks will compete in nine events on Saturday beginning with Moore in the pentathlon.
