Omaha Set to Compete at South Dakota State
Feb 11, 2015 | Track & Field
This Week
The Omaha track & field team will compete in the SDSU Indoor Invitational on Feb. 13-14. The event will begin at noon on Friday and at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D.
The Coaches
Chris Richardson is in his ninth season with the Omaha track & field program, his second as its head coach after seven seasons as an assistant. Richardson helped guide the Mavericks through some of their most successful years including three conference championships and three top-five NCAA finishes. The highlight of that stretch included a fourth-place finish at the 2010 indoor championship prior to the Mavericks' reclassification to Division I. In 2011, he was named the USTFCCCA South Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.
Richardson is assisted by Marc Bierbaum and Ryan Finley. Bierbaum is in his fifth season coaching the distance events in addition to coaching the cross country team. Finley is in his second season, coaching both sprints and jumps. Cliff Cisar and former UNO standout and multiple record holder Sami Spenner are volunteer assistant coaches.
The Previous Meet
Freshman Stephanie Ahrens led a 1-2-3 finish in the high jump for the Mavericks at the Dakota Realty Alumni Meet hosted by South Dakota on Saturday.
Ahrens won the event with a jump of 5-08 ½. Her teammates, Emily Everitt and Taryn Derickson, both posted marks of 5-02 ½ with Everitt taking second by virtue of a tiebreaker.
On the track, Alyssa Thavenet finished third in the 800 meters with a personal best time of 2:20.58.
Ashley Kildow finished fourth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:03.29.
In the sprints, Terri Armstrong took third in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.88, just .01 from tying her personal best. Her teammate Hannah Fowler was eighth in a time of 8.27
Armstrong also took sixth in the 200 meters with a time of 26.58.
In the 60 meter hurdles, Maddie Buller finished fifth in a time of 9.60.
Freshman Noni Henderson had a pair of second-place finishes in the field. She took second in the long jump with a leap of 17-02 ¼, edging Everitt who was third at 17-00 ½, a new personal best.
Henderson also finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 35-06 ½.
Amanda Conlin was fourth in the shot put with a throw of 42-00 ¾.
Mavericks Ranking in the Summit League
In meets through Feb. 8, the Mavericks are ranked in seven different events.
In the 60 meters, senior Terri Armstrong holds eighth place (7.80).
Senior Ashley Kildow is seventh in the mile run (4:58.99) and fifth in the 3,000 meter run (9:55.57).
In the 60 meter hurdles, freshman Maddie Buller holds sixth place (9.31).
For the relays, the Maverick 4X400 team is sixth (4:00.32), and the distance medley is third (12:44.02).
The high jump has three Mavs in the rankings. Freshman Stephanie Ahrens holds the second-place spot (5'10 3/4'') while freshman Emily Everitt is in fourth place (5' 5'') and sophomore Taryn Derickson in fifth (5' 4 1/2'').
The “Last” Season
This is the final season for Omaha track & field in its four-year reclassification from Division II to Division I. The Mavericks, who have never finished lower than fourth in the Summit League indoor or outdoor championships, are eligible for NCAA competition beginning with the 2015-16 season.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks will be competing in two events on Friday, Feb. 20. The Nebraska Tune-Up hosted by Nebraska at 2 p.m. in Lincoln, Neb. and the USD Twilight meet, which begins at 2 p.m. in Vermillion, S.D.
