COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Omaha track & field team wrapped up competition at the Mizzou Spring Opener on Saturday. It was the Mavericks' first meet of the outdoor season.
"It was a good opening meet to the outdoor season," said head coach
Chris Richardson. "The coaches were surprised by some of the solid performances in some events and at the same time, we know we have work to do in others. Regardless of how they did, the goal is always to be better today than you were yesterday."
Sophomore
Carrie Simonson had a good day in the sprints. She finished fourth in the 200 meters with a wind-aided time of 25.64. She also finished eighth in the 100 meters with a time of 12.48.
Also in the 100 meters,
Nina Cuevas finished 10th in a time of 12.69. She finished 13th in the 200 meters with a wind-aided time of 26.89.
Other UNO finishers in the 200 meters included
Kylie Johnson (16th, 27.32),
Roxy Denton (19th, 27.73) and
Taylor Ramaekers (23rd, 28.13).
In the 100 meter hurdles, Johnson finished fifth in a time of 15.48, and Denton was 13th at 20.40.
Vanessa Gunderson took fourth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:07.17.
In the 400 meters,
Scarlett Hill set a lifetime best with a time of 59.54 to finish eighth.
Chloe Sabatka was 12th in a time of 1:05.80.
Joanna Topham led a group of six Mavericks in the 800 meters, coming in 14th in a time of 2:23.71. Also running for the Mavericks:
Maya Nachtigal (23rd, 2:26.88),
Paige Blackford (25th, 2:29.55),
Taylor Sporrer (26th, 2:30.80),
Danielle Howard (27th, 2:31.22) and
Jesse Ixta (31st, 2:34.12).
In the field events,
Sheridan Rodriguez finished third in the high jump with a leap of 5-05.
Taylor Ramaekers was fourth at 5-03, and
Kaitlin Hellbusch was fifth at the same height.
Kennedy Powell took fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 34-11.
In the throws,
Lucy Turner finished 10th in the discus with a mark of 122-02.
Lori Vedder was 13th with a distance of 103-02, and
Kinsey Scheffler was 14th at 102-11.
Scheffler led the way in the shot put with a throw of 34-10 ½, good for 11th. Turner was 13th at 34-02.
(Because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 outdoor season, those times that weren't wind aided are lifetime bests for student-athletes who are sophomores or younger. The same is the case for all field heights and distances for members of the same classes. Lifetime bests for juniors and seniors are noted.)
The Mavericks return to action at the Blue Oval Invitational at Drake on Saturday, March 27.
