Senior Stephanie Ahrens, the two-time defending Summit League outdoor champion and an NCAA Qualifier, was named an Athlete To Watch this season.
Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia
Mavericks Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll
Mar 9, 2018 | Track & Field
ELMHURST, Ill. – The Omaha track & field team has been chosen fifth in the annual Summit League outdoor preseason coaches' poll.
The Mavericks earned 14 points in the voting, finishing behind Oral Roberts (22) and ahead of Western Illinois (11).
North Dakota State was chosen to repeat as outdoor champions for the 11th straight year, earning 36 points in the voting and six first-place votes. The Bison won the indoor championship last month. South Dakota was picked second with 31 points and the other first-place vote. South Dakota State (25) was third.
In addition, Mavericks Stephanie Ahrens and Lauren Houston were named Athletes to Watch during the outdoor season. Ahrens is the two-time Summit champion in the high jump (2016, 2017) and an NCAA West Regional Qualifier last season. She won the indoor high jump championship in February and posted the best mark in the event in the Summit in 2018. Ahrens also scored for the Mavericks in the 60 meter hurdles.
Houston was the Summit League indoor 800 meter runner up at the 2018 championships, running the third-fastest time in the event in the Summit League this season. She also was a member of UNO's 4x400 meter relay team that finished fifth at the indoor championship.
The Mavericks open their outdoor season at the Tulsa Duels on Friday and Saturday, March 16-17.
2018 Summit League Outdoor Coaches Poll
The Mavericks earned 14 points in the voting, finishing behind Oral Roberts (22) and ahead of Western Illinois (11).
North Dakota State was chosen to repeat as outdoor champions for the 11th straight year, earning 36 points in the voting and six first-place votes. The Bison won the indoor championship last month. South Dakota was picked second with 31 points and the other first-place vote. South Dakota State (25) was third.
In addition, Mavericks Stephanie Ahrens and Lauren Houston were named Athletes to Watch during the outdoor season. Ahrens is the two-time Summit champion in the high jump (2016, 2017) and an NCAA West Regional Qualifier last season. She won the indoor high jump championship in February and posted the best mark in the event in the Summit in 2018. Ahrens also scored for the Mavericks in the 60 meter hurdles.
Houston was the Summit League indoor 800 meter runner up at the 2018 championships, running the third-fastest time in the event in the Summit League this season. She also was a member of UNO's 4x400 meter relay team that finished fifth at the indoor championship.
The Mavericks open their outdoor season at the Tulsa Duels on Friday and Saturday, March 16-17.
2018 Summit League Outdoor Coaches Poll
| No. | Team (First-place votes) | Pts. |
| 1. | North Dakota State (6) | 36 |
| 2. | South Dakota (1) | 31 |
| 3. | South Dakota State | 25 |
| 4. | Oral Roberts | 22 |
| 5. | Omaha | 14 |
| 6. | Western Illinois | 11 |
| 7. | Fort Wayne | 8 |
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