This Week
The Omaha cross country team will travel back to Lawrence, Kan. on Saturday, Oct. 5 to compete in the Rim Rock Classic hosted by Kansas. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. at the  Rim Rock Farm course.

This Season
The Mavericks are competing in their 32nd season of women's cross country in 2013.  It is also the third year of their reclassification to Division I.  They are not eligible to participate in NCAA championship competition until completing their four-year reclassification, nor are they eligible to win the Summit League Championship.  The Mavericks will be able to win the Summit and compete nationally in 2015.

The Coaches
Chris Richardson is in his first 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 fourth season, guides the cross country team in addition to UNO's distance runners in track & field.  Last year, he led the Mavericks to a fifth-place finish in the Summit League Championship after the Mavericks were picked ninth in the pre-season coaches poll.  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
The Omaha cross country team placed seventh in the university division at the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational in Lincoln Saturday, Sept. 21. The Mavericks finished with 157 points. Wichita State won with 35 points followed by Kansas State.

Freshman Lindsey Bruns led the Mavericks over the 6k course at Pioneers Park with a time of 23:03.40, finishing 16th overall. It was her third top-three finish for the Mavericks in as many races.

Kristin Rogers followed with a 19th place-finish and a time of 23:10.60, a career best. Kristen Carmichael ran third for the Mavs placing 41st overall in a time of 23:59.00. Ashley Kildow was close behind in 43rd place posting a time of 24:01.30. Kayla Fenske ran a career best 24:14.70 to come in 53rd, completing the scoring for the Mavs.  

Other runners competing were MiKayla Peck (24:25.30), Catherine Davison (24:56.70), Avery Schmidt (26:14.50), Jackie Mezick (26:51.80), Emily Moore (27:03.20) and Brittany Phillips (27:29.30).

Top Times
Junior Kristin Rogers' time at the J.K. Gold Classic on Sept. 7 (14:57.26) ranks fifth in the Summit League's 4k top times. Rogers holds 14th place in the 5k times with her 19:48.98 finish at the Bob Timmons Classic on Aug. 31.

Junior Ashley Kildow also placed in the top 4k times. Her time of 15:03.25 at the J.K. Gold Classic puts her in eighth place.

Freshman Lindsey Bruns is the only Maverick to place in the league's top 6k times. She ranks 15th after her 23:03.40 finish at the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational on Sept. 21.

Up Next
After a week off, the Mavericks are scheduled to compete in two meets:  Saturday, Oct.19 in the Tim Young Invitational at South Dakota; and the Tori Neubauer Invitational at Wisconsin-La Crosse.  The schedule is subject to change.