Mavericks Run For Summit League Championship
Oct 29, 2014 | Cross Country
OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha cross country team concludes the 2014 season at the Summit League Cross Country Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11 a.m. at Fargo, N.D. The Mavericks were picked fifth in the annual pre-season coaches poll.
This Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 33rd season of women's cross country in 2014. It is also the final year of their four-year reclassification to Division I. They will eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition beginning in 2015.
The Coaches
Chris Richardson is in his second season overseeing the Omaha cross country and track & field teams as the head coach following six years as an assistant coach. Assistant coach Marc Bierbaum, now in his fifth season, guides the cross country team in addition to UNO's distance runners in track & field. Last year, Bierbaum led the Mavericks to a sixth-place finish in the Summit League Championship. Bierbaum was a three-time national qualifier in cross country and track at Dana College where he graduated in 2001. He is assisted by volunteer assistant coach Cliff Cisar.
Last Time Out
Ashley Kildow led a string of season-best times in the 5K as the Omaha cross country team took second place at the Mount Marty Invite on Oct. 25. The Mavericks finished with 90 points, second only to Dordt College which won with a total of 23.
All five UNO scorers posted season-best times. Kildow finished second overall in the field of 192 runners with a time of 18:20.25. Kristin Rogers also posted a top-10 finish, coming in ninth in a time of 18:51.38. Kildow and Rogers have run 1-2 for the Mavericks in every meet this season.
Kristen Carmichael was 24th with a time of 19:25.56 while Perla Gutierrez was right behind in 27th with a time of 19:30.49.
Catherine Davison completed the scoring for the Mavericks with a time of 19:47.54, good for 39th place.
Athlete of the Week
Ashley Kildow was named the Summit League's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for her performance at Mount Marty last weekend. It is the first weekly honor for Kildow and for any UNO cross country runner since joining the Summit League.
Where They Rank
Kildow ranks in the top 10 in the Summit League for 5K and 6K times through meets on Oct. 25. In the 5K, Kildow ranks eighth with her time of 18:20.25 at the Mount Marty Invite on Oct. 25.
In the 6K, she is in a tie for ninth with a time of 22:14.4 run at the Bradley Classic on Oct. 17.
North Dakota State's Erin Teschuk has the league's top 5K time at 17:19.22, and South Dakota's Amber Eichkorn has its top 6 K time of 20:45.9.
The Newcomers
Three true freshman, all from outside Nebraska, joined the Mavericks this season. Alyssa Averhoff comes to Omaha from Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she was a three-year letter winner in cross country and track at Kennedy High School. She scored for the Mavericks in her first collegiate meet, coming in third on the team.
Katie Bostrom is a native of Fargo, N.D. where she was an all-state performer for three years at Fargo South High School. Kayla Sabotin was a four-year qualifier for the state cross country championship while running for Waukee High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, sophomore Alyssa Thavenet, who participated in track & field last season, was added to the team following the first meet of the year.
This Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 33rd season of women's cross country in 2014. It is also the final year of their four-year reclassification to Division I. They will eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition beginning in 2015.
The Coaches
Chris Richardson is in his second season overseeing the Omaha cross country and track & field teams as the head coach following six years as an assistant coach. Assistant coach Marc Bierbaum, now in his fifth season, guides the cross country team in addition to UNO's distance runners in track & field. Last year, Bierbaum led the Mavericks to a sixth-place finish in the Summit League Championship. Bierbaum was a three-time national qualifier in cross country and track at Dana College where he graduated in 2001. He is assisted by volunteer assistant coach Cliff Cisar.
Last Time Out
Ashley Kildow led a string of season-best times in the 5K as the Omaha cross country team took second place at the Mount Marty Invite on Oct. 25. The Mavericks finished with 90 points, second only to Dordt College which won with a total of 23.
All five UNO scorers posted season-best times. Kildow finished second overall in the field of 192 runners with a time of 18:20.25. Kristin Rogers also posted a top-10 finish, coming in ninth in a time of 18:51.38. Kildow and Rogers have run 1-2 for the Mavericks in every meet this season.
Kristen Carmichael was 24th with a time of 19:25.56 while Perla Gutierrez was right behind in 27th with a time of 19:30.49.
Catherine Davison completed the scoring for the Mavericks with a time of 19:47.54, good for 39th place.
Athlete of the Week
Ashley Kildow was named the Summit League's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for her performance at Mount Marty last weekend. It is the first weekly honor for Kildow and for any UNO cross country runner since joining the Summit League.
Where They Rank
Kildow ranks in the top 10 in the Summit League for 5K and 6K times through meets on Oct. 25. In the 5K, Kildow ranks eighth with her time of 18:20.25 at the Mount Marty Invite on Oct. 25.
In the 6K, she is in a tie for ninth with a time of 22:14.4 run at the Bradley Classic on Oct. 17.
North Dakota State's Erin Teschuk has the league's top 5K time at 17:19.22, and South Dakota's Amber Eichkorn has its top 6 K time of 20:45.9.
The Newcomers
Three true freshman, all from outside Nebraska, joined the Mavericks this season. Alyssa Averhoff comes to Omaha from Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she was a three-year letter winner in cross country and track at Kennedy High School. She scored for the Mavericks in her first collegiate meet, coming in third on the team.
Katie Bostrom is a native of Fargo, N.D. where she was an all-state performer for three years at Fargo South High School. Kayla Sabotin was a four-year qualifier for the state cross country championship while running for Waukee High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, sophomore Alyssa Thavenet, who participated in track & field last season, was added to the team following the first meet of the year.
Players Mentioned
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