By: Maret Elgren, Reporter
OMAHA, Neb. – On your mark…get set…go! The Omaha Mavericks track and field team has finally begun their outdoor season after a monthlong break from competing, and are hungry for success after a record-breaking indoor campaign.
After the eighth-seeded Mavericks finished sixth in the Summit League during indoor season, Assistant Coach Cliff Cisar said that his expectations are high, especially for the distance events.
“The seniors led the way; Maya Nachtigal had a wonderful race, Lauren Metzger had a wonderful race,” Cisar said. “Both of them entered in the top 10 in school history in the 5K.”
Cisar also noted success by newcomer Kamryn Ensley, as well as by the Distance Medley Relay, which competed at the Summit League indoor championships, garnering a fifth-place mark all-time for the Mavericks as well as a fifth-place finish in the conference.
“I think the DMR was a great race for us at the conference meet,” Cisar said. “We really had a good time, 12:15, which was a big race for us and puts us fifth in school history.”
Senior Lauren Metzger, a member of the relay team who transferred to the Mavericks this spring, said that becoming a part of school history during her first semester at Omaha meant a lot to her.
“Being a part of that DMR team, especially with us getting fifth all-time in Omaha school history just felt awesome,” Metzger said.
Metzger said that she looks to continue that momentum on the outdoor track this spring, hoping to add to her already impressive marks. During the indoor season, Metzger earned top-10 spots in the 3000- and 5000-meter runs in addition to the DMR, and hopes to continue contributing to the team.
“One thing I’d love to complete by the time I’m done with my collegiate career as a Maverick is to podium at conference,” Metzger said.
Cisar’s outlook on the team’s outdoor season is a positive one. Cisar said that with more opportunities to score points at the outdoor conference meet than indoors, he is looking for his athletes to gain enough confidence to make a statement in May.
“I think we’ll be able to shock some more schools in our conference,” Cisar said. “We’re going to get more points at that meet, but it’ll take this entire outdoor season to get to that.”
With the first outdoor meet under their belts, the Mavericks have a sense of what it feels like to compete again. Now, all eyes are on May as they continue toward their journey to the top of the Summit League to defy expectations once again.
