Ahrens Earns All-America Honors at NCAA Championship

OMAVS.com – Senior Stephanie Ahrens became the first athlete in program history to earn All-American honors in the Division I era Saturday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon's historic Hayward Field.

Ahrens tied for eighth in the high jump with a height of 5-feet-10 inches (1.78 cm), which earned her first-team All-American status.

"I want to give a huge thank you to the coaching staff for helping me achieve this goal, especially Coach Jill Sutton for preparing me for everything in Oregon, including the weather," said Ahrens. "I am so honored to be Omaha track and field's first Division I All-American."

Her accomplishment also marks the first time since 2011 that Omaha has had an All-American. Former Mavericks Heather Minssen and Sami Spenner were the last athletes to earn All-America status during the Division II era. Minssen tallied a second-place finish in the shot put, and Spenner was awarded for finishing fifth in the heptathlon.

Ahrens cleared 5-feet-8 inches on her first attempt Saturday, and on her third attempt at 5-feet-10 inches, she was able to clear the bar to tie for eighth.

The Lincoln native's monumental career includes four Summit League high jump titles, All-Summit League and Academic All-Summit League honors.

"This is such an incredible accomplishment for Stephanie, our track and field program and the athletic department," said head coach Chris Richardson. "This performance is a culmination of all the hard work that she and Coach Sutton have put in all year. I can't express how happy I am for both of them."