Mavericks To Run at Nebraska This Week
Sep 12, 2012 | Cross Country
OMAHA, Neb. - The UNO cross country team continues the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 15 when it travels to Lincoln, Neb. for the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational. The 6K women's meet begins at 10 a.m. The Mavericks finished 13th out of 25 teams at last year's event.
A New Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 31st season of women's cross country in 2012. This is the second year of their reclassificaiton to Division I. The Mavs will compete in five meets leading up to the Summit League Championship on Oct. 27. Because they are not eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition until completing their four-year reclassification, the Mavericks will finish the season at the St. John's Fall Invite on Nov. 2.
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
Season Opener
The Mavericks started the season by finishing third at the UNO/Creighton Classic on Sept. 1. Senior Amanda Vorthmann led the 60-runner field with a time of 19:23.7. It was the first time a Maverick had won the team's only home event of the season. Sophomore Kristin Rogers finished second for the Mav's and ninth overall in a time of 20:02.6. The third, fourth, and fifth place finishers for the Mavs were sophomores Ashley Kildow (20:19.7), MiKayla Peck (20:58.1), and Katarina Zarudnaya (21:18.7). Freshmen Carolyn Newhouse (21:55.5) and Kourtney Osentoski (22:00.3) finished sixth and seventh for the Mavs while junior Kayla Fenske was eighth (22:12.0). The ninth- through 13th- place Mavericks were freshmen Avery Schmidt (22:45.4) and Karo Garcia (23:14.4), sophomore Michelle Gatewood (24:03.0), freshman Jackie Mezick (24:28.1) and sophomore Kelsey Green (26:38.0).
Bumper Crop
The Mavericks added seven newcomers to their roster this season including six freshman and a sophomore. The group includes three runners from Iowa in Kristen Carmichael (Corning/Corning), Carolyn Newhouse (Marion/Linn-mar) and Avery Schmidt (Centerville/Centerville). In addition, three of the newcomers hail from Nebraska in freshmen Karo Garcia (Columbus/Columbus) and Jackie Mezick (Bellevue/Bellevue East); and sophomore Michelle Gatewood (Omaha/Millard North) who was enrolled at UNO but did not compete. Michigan native Kourtney Osentoski (Temperance/Bedford) rounds out the group of incoming runners.
Next Up for the Mavs
The Mavericks will travel to Colorado next to take part in the Rocky Mountain Shootout on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Last season, the Mavs finished seventh overall in the 5k race.
A New Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 31st season of women's cross country in 2012. This is the second year of their reclassificaiton to Division I. The Mavs will compete in five meets leading up to the Summit League Championship on Oct. 27. Because they are not eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition until completing their four-year reclassification, the Mavericks will finish the season at the St. John's Fall Invite on Nov. 2.
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
Season Opener
The Mavericks started the season by finishing third at the UNO/Creighton Classic on Sept. 1. Senior Amanda Vorthmann led the 60-runner field with a time of 19:23.7. It was the first time a Maverick had won the team's only home event of the season. Sophomore Kristin Rogers finished second for the Mav's and ninth overall in a time of 20:02.6. The third, fourth, and fifth place finishers for the Mavs were sophomores Ashley Kildow (20:19.7), MiKayla Peck (20:58.1), and Katarina Zarudnaya (21:18.7). Freshmen Carolyn Newhouse (21:55.5) and Kourtney Osentoski (22:00.3) finished sixth and seventh for the Mavs while junior Kayla Fenske was eighth (22:12.0). The ninth- through 13th- place Mavericks were freshmen Avery Schmidt (22:45.4) and Karo Garcia (23:14.4), sophomore Michelle Gatewood (24:03.0), freshman Jackie Mezick (24:28.1) and sophomore Kelsey Green (26:38.0).
Bumper Crop
The Mavericks added seven newcomers to their roster this season including six freshman and a sophomore. The group includes three runners from Iowa in Kristen Carmichael (Corning/Corning), Carolyn Newhouse (Marion/Linn-mar) and Avery Schmidt (Centerville/Centerville). In addition, three of the newcomers hail from Nebraska in freshmen Karo Garcia (Columbus/Columbus) and Jackie Mezick (Bellevue/Bellevue East); and sophomore Michelle Gatewood (Omaha/Millard North) who was enrolled at UNO but did not compete. Michigan native Kourtney Osentoski (Temperance/Bedford) rounds out the group of incoming runners.
Next Up for the Mavs
The Mavericks will travel to Colorado next to take part in the Rocky Mountain Shootout on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Last season, the Mavs finished seventh overall in the 5k race.
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