Split Weekend for Mavs in Lincoln and Vermillion
Feb 18, 2015 | Track & Field
This Week
The Mavericks will be competing in two events this Friday, Feb. 20. The Nebraska Tune-Up hosted by Nebraska will begin at 2 p.m. in Lincoln, Neb and the USD Twilight meet, which will also begin at 2 p.m., in Vermillion, 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
The Omaha track and field team competed in the SDSU Indoor Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13-14.
On the first day, Stephanie Ahrens posted a jump of 5-06 ½, just ahead of teammates Emily Everitt who placed third (5-04 ½) and Taryn Derickson who finished fifth (5-02 ½).
In the long jump, Payton Horacek placed seventh with a jump of 17-07, and Noni Henderson placed eighth, posting a jump of 17-04 ¾.
Amanda Conlin earned sixth place in the shot put with a throw of 41-01 1/2.
The second day was highlighted by a number of personal bests.
Henderson. She jumped a personal best 36-01 ¼ in the triple jump, good for fifth place. Teammate Ahrens was right behind in sixth with a jump of 35-10 ½.
Three Mavericks set personal best times in the 400 meters. Hannah Fowler finished with a time of 1:00.65. Madeline Glesinger posted a time of 1:01.54, and Alexis Allgood finished in 1:01.81.
The 800 meters also saw Maverick personal best times. Alyssa Thavenet posted a time of 2:17.51 for fourth place. Kayla Sabotin earned sixth place with a time of 2:17.86.
Kristen Rogers posted a personal best in the unseeded mile run. She came in second with a time of 5:25.51. Ashley Kildow placed fifth in the seeded mile run with a time of 5:03.96.
In the 60 meter hurdle prelims, senior Amanda Alexander posted a personal best time of 10.17.
The Maverick 4X400 team finished in a season-best time of 3:58.84, good for 12th place. The team was made up of Maddie Buller, Fowler, Thavenet and Sabotin.
Mavericks Ranking in the Summit League
In meets through Feb. 15, the Mavericks are ranked in the top eight 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 seventh 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 (3:58.84), 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
The Omaha track & field team is in its fourth and final year of reclassification from Division II to Division I. The Mavericks are eligible for NCAA competition beginning with the 2015-16 season.
Up Next For The Mavericks
The Mavericks will compete in the Summit League Indoor Championship Feb. 27-28 in Fargo, N.D. The event will begin at noon on Friday and at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
