Mavericks Open Outdoor Season at Tulsa
Mar 13, 2013 | General, Track & Field
Weekly Release
This Week
The Omaha track & field team begins the outdoor season by traveling to Tulsa, Okla. to take part in the Tulsa Duels on Saturday, March 16. Field events begin at 9 a.m., and the running events will start at Noon.
The Coaches
Steve Smith is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Omaha track & field program. Smith was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Indoor Coach of the Year in 2009 after guiding the Mavericks to the MIAA Indoor Championships and repeated the feat the following year. Overall, Smith has guided the Mavericks to three conference championships and three top-five finishes at the NCAA Division II Championship including a fourth-place finish indoors in 2010.
Smith is assisted by Chris Richardson (jumps and multi-events), who was named the USTFCCCA South Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011. Marc Bierbaum is in his third season coaching the distance events in addition to coaching the cross country team.
Sami's Sterling Season
Junior Sami Spenner had one of the finest indoor seasons in UNO history this past winter. She was named the Summit League's Field Championship MVP for winning three events (pentathlon, long jump, triple jump) and earning 40 points individually for the Mavericks who finished a surprising second after being picked seventh in the pre-season coaches poll.
The Columbus, Neb. native twice set the school's pentathlon record, the second time with a mark of 4,271 at the USA Track & Field Championship one week after competing in the Summit League Championship. She earned a bronze medal for her fourth-place finish. She also set the school's long jump record twice with a mark of 20-05 1/4, a mark she equaled in the pentathlon at the USA Track & Field meet. She finished with the Summit League's top marks in the pentathlon, long jump and triple jump and also ranked in the top five in the 200 meters (4), 60 meter hurdles (4), 60 meter dash (5) and high jump (5).
Spenner was named the Summit League's Athlete of the Month for January and February and was named the Summit League's Woman Athlete of the Week for track & field six times this season, a league record. She was a member of the All-Summit League team and was named to the Academic All-Summit League team.
Teamwork
Spenner wasn't the only Maverick to earn high marks during the indoor season. Senior Maja Mihalinec was the Summit League's champion in the 60 meter dash and took second in the 200 meters.
Amanda Vorthmann set school records in the mile (4:56.57), 3,000 meters (9:47.90) and 5,000 meters (17:30.66) this season.
Mihalinec joined Spenner on the Academic All-Summit League team and the All-Summit League team. Other members of the All-Summit League squad included Vorthman, Kathie-Lee Laidley, Katarina Zarudnaya, Denneil Shaw, Terri Armstrong and Lauren Psota.
The team's final indoor performance list and the Summit League's indoor performance list can be found on the track & field page of OMavs.com.
High Marks
Because the Mavericks do not qualify for NCAA championships during their four-year reclassification to Division I, their marks do not appear on the national performance list. However if included, Spenner would rank second in the pentathlon with her school record score of 4,271. She'd also be tied for 11th in the triple jump (42-07 1/2) and tied for 20th in the long jump (20-05 1/4). The full NCAA indoor performance list is available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will stay in-state to compete in the Wildcat Classic hosted by Wayne State on Saturday, March 30 beginning at 11 a.m.
This Week
The Omaha track & field team begins the outdoor season by traveling to Tulsa, Okla. to take part in the Tulsa Duels on Saturday, March 16. Field events begin at 9 a.m., and the running events will start at Noon.
The Coaches
Steve Smith is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Omaha track & field program. Smith was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Indoor Coach of the Year in 2009 after guiding the Mavericks to the MIAA Indoor Championships and repeated the feat the following year. Overall, Smith has guided the Mavericks to three conference championships and three top-five finishes at the NCAA Division II Championship including a fourth-place finish indoors in 2010.
Smith is assisted by Chris Richardson (jumps and multi-events), who was named the USTFCCCA South Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011. Marc Bierbaum is in his third season coaching the distance events in addition to coaching the cross country team.
Sami's Sterling Season
Junior Sami Spenner had one of the finest indoor seasons in UNO history this past winter. She was named the Summit League's Field Championship MVP for winning three events (pentathlon, long jump, triple jump) and earning 40 points individually for the Mavericks who finished a surprising second after being picked seventh in the pre-season coaches poll.
The Columbus, Neb. native twice set the school's pentathlon record, the second time with a mark of 4,271 at the USA Track & Field Championship one week after competing in the Summit League Championship. She earned a bronze medal for her fourth-place finish. She also set the school's long jump record twice with a mark of 20-05 1/4, a mark she equaled in the pentathlon at the USA Track & Field meet. She finished with the Summit League's top marks in the pentathlon, long jump and triple jump and also ranked in the top five in the 200 meters (4), 60 meter hurdles (4), 60 meter dash (5) and high jump (5).
Spenner was named the Summit League's Athlete of the Month for January and February and was named the Summit League's Woman Athlete of the Week for track & field six times this season, a league record. She was a member of the All-Summit League team and was named to the Academic All-Summit League team.
Teamwork
Spenner wasn't the only Maverick to earn high marks during the indoor season. Senior Maja Mihalinec was the Summit League's champion in the 60 meter dash and took second in the 200 meters.
Amanda Vorthmann set school records in the mile (4:56.57), 3,000 meters (9:47.90) and 5,000 meters (17:30.66) this season.
Mihalinec joined Spenner on the Academic All-Summit League team and the All-Summit League team. Other members of the All-Summit League squad included Vorthman, Kathie-Lee Laidley, Katarina Zarudnaya, Denneil Shaw, Terri Armstrong and Lauren Psota.
The team's final indoor performance list and the Summit League's indoor performance list can be found on the track & field page of OMavs.com.
High Marks
Because the Mavericks do not qualify for NCAA championships during their four-year reclassification to Division I, their marks do not appear on the national performance list. However if included, Spenner would rank second in the pentathlon with her school record score of 4,271. She'd also be tied for 11th in the triple jump (42-07 1/2) and tied for 20th in the long jump (20-05 1/4). The full NCAA indoor performance list is available at OMavs.com.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks will stay in-state to compete in the Wildcat Classic hosted by Wayne State on Saturday, March 30 beginning at 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Jumps/Multi-Even
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & FieldTuesday, September 01
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Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
