Mavs Run For Summit Hardware This Week
Oct 24, 2012 | Cross Country
OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha cross country concludes its first full season in the Summit League at the league's championship meet on Saturday, Oct. 27. The 6k women's meet will begin at 10 a.m. on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.
This Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 31st season of women's cross country in 2012. This is the second year of their reclassification to Division I. In five previous meets, the Mavericks have won the Briar Cliff Invite, placed third in their own meet, the UNO/Creighton Classic, and finished in the top five at the Rocky Mountain Shootout at Colorado. Because they are not eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition until completing their four-year reclassification, the Mavericks will not run again this year following Saturday's meet.
The Coaches
Steve Smith is in his seventh season as the head coach of both the cross country and track & field teams. He has led UNO to multiple conference championships in track in addition to several top five finishes in the NCAA Championship. He was a two time indoor coach of the year in the Mavericks' previous conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). He is assisted by Marc Bierbaum who is in his third season. In addition to his work with cross country, Bierbaum coaches UNO's distance runners in track & field. He was a three-time national qualifier in cross country and track at Dana College
Last Meet - Tim Young Dakota Days Challenge at South Dakota
The Mavericks head into the Summit League Championship following a two-week layoff. They haven't run since taking second in the Tim Young Dakota Days Challenge hosted by South Dakota on Oct. 13. Senior Amanda Vorthmann led the Mavs for the fifth straight race and took second overall with a time of 17:44.20 over the 5k course. Ashley Kildow ran second for the Mavs for the third time this year, posting a time of 18:52.27 for eighth overall. Nicole Behm (19:14.71/12th), MiKayla Peck (19:18.07/13) and Kristin Rogers (19:18.40/14) rounded out UNO's pack of scorers.
In all, 12 runners competed for the Mavericks. Junior Kayla Fenske and freshmen Kourtney Osentoski and Carolyn Newhouse finished 17th, 18th, and 19th overall. They posted times of 20:02, 20:06.00, and 20:15.00, respectively. Freshman Avery Schmidt finished 25th overall with a time of 21:05. Sophomore Lydia Martin finished with a time of 21:26, 28th overall. Freshman Karo Garcia (33rd) and sophomore Kelsey Green (35th) earned times of 21:56 and 23:58.
Records, Top Times and Personal Bests
Senior Amanda Vorthmann has been a consistent highlight for the Mavericks this season and is considered one of the favorites in the championship meet. She set the school's 5k record on Oct. 6, winning the Briar Cliff Invite in a time of 17:12.38. It's not only the fastest time cross country time at that distance in UNO history, but it's also faster than any 5k time for both indoor or outdoor track at UNO. In addition, the time is fastest at that distance in the Summit League this season. Vorthmann also owns the sixth-fastest Summit League 6k time after running the Woody Greeno Invitational at Nebraska in a time of 21:49.4.
Sophomore Ashley Kildow and senior Nicole Behm also rank among the league's best at 5k. Kildow ran 18:14.71 at Briar Cliff, and Behm ran a time of 18:29.88 to rank 10th and 14th respectively among all Summit League runners.
In spite of running just one 6k meet this fall, all UNO runners set personal bests at both 5k and 6k this season.
This Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 31st season of women's cross country in 2012. This is the second year of their reclassification to Division I. In five previous meets, the Mavericks have won the Briar Cliff Invite, placed third in their own meet, the UNO/Creighton Classic, and finished in the top five at the Rocky Mountain Shootout at Colorado. Because they are not eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition until completing their four-year reclassification, the Mavericks will not run again this year following Saturday's meet.
The Coaches
Steve Smith is in his seventh season as the head coach of both the cross country and track & field teams. He has led UNO to multiple conference championships in track in addition to several top five finishes in the NCAA Championship. He was a two time indoor coach of the year in the Mavericks' previous conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). He is assisted by Marc Bierbaum who is in his third season. In addition to his work with cross country, Bierbaum coaches UNO's distance runners in track & field. He was a three-time national qualifier in cross country and track at Dana College
Last Meet - Tim Young Dakota Days Challenge at South Dakota
The Mavericks head into the Summit League Championship following a two-week layoff. They haven't run since taking second in the Tim Young Dakota Days Challenge hosted by South Dakota on Oct. 13. Senior Amanda Vorthmann led the Mavs for the fifth straight race and took second overall with a time of 17:44.20 over the 5k course. Ashley Kildow ran second for the Mavs for the third time this year, posting a time of 18:52.27 for eighth overall. Nicole Behm (19:14.71/12th), MiKayla Peck (19:18.07/13) and Kristin Rogers (19:18.40/14) rounded out UNO's pack of scorers.
In all, 12 runners competed for the Mavericks. Junior Kayla Fenske and freshmen Kourtney Osentoski and Carolyn Newhouse finished 17th, 18th, and 19th overall. They posted times of 20:02, 20:06.00, and 20:15.00, respectively. Freshman Avery Schmidt finished 25th overall with a time of 21:05. Sophomore Lydia Martin finished with a time of 21:26, 28th overall. Freshman Karo Garcia (33rd) and sophomore Kelsey Green (35th) earned times of 21:56 and 23:58.
Records, Top Times and Personal Bests
Senior Amanda Vorthmann has been a consistent highlight for the Mavericks this season and is considered one of the favorites in the championship meet. She set the school's 5k record on Oct. 6, winning the Briar Cliff Invite in a time of 17:12.38. It's not only the fastest time cross country time at that distance in UNO history, but it's also faster than any 5k time for both indoor or outdoor track at UNO. In addition, the time is fastest at that distance in the Summit League this season. Vorthmann also owns the sixth-fastest Summit League 6k time after running the Woody Greeno Invitational at Nebraska in a time of 21:49.4.
Sophomore Ashley Kildow and senior Nicole Behm also rank among the league's best at 5k. Kildow ran 18:14.71 at Briar Cliff, and Behm ran a time of 18:29.88 to rank 10th and 14th respectively among all Summit League runners.
In spite of running just one 6k meet this fall, all UNO runners set personal bests at both 5k and 6k this season.
Players Mentioned
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