Maria Effinger

Class: Junior Hometown: Swansea, Ill. High School: Belleville East HS

Event: Distance Eligibility: Junior

(Updated: 03/05/2015)

MIZZOU PERSONAL RECORDS
Cross Country
5,000m Run - 18:18.58 | Greater Louisville Classic | 09/29/2012
6,000m Run - 22:03 | Wisconsin Adidas Invitational | 10/12/2012
Indoor Track & Field
3,000m Run - 10:13.07 | Tyson Invitational | 02/15/2014
Outdoor Track & Field
5,000m Run - 16:55.21 | Mt. SAC Relays | 04/19/2014

TFRRS Page

2014-15
Season's Bests
5000m (XC) - 18:24.40  |  Greater Louisville Classic (Louisville, Ky.)  |  10/04
6000m (XC) - 22:06.10  |  Bradley Pink Classic (Peoria, Ill.)  |  10/17

Cross Country - Maria competed in six meets during the cross country season, starting with a 23rd place finish at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival, where she navigated the 5000m course in 18:45.00...She improved upon that 5000m time at the Greater Louisville Classic, crossing in 18:24.40...Maria just missed her 6000m PR at the Bradley Pink Classic, where she crossed in 22:06.10 for 34th...She ended her season with a 58th place finish at the SEC Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and a 137th place crossing at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in Peoria, Ill.
Indoor Track - Did not compete.

2013-14
Seasons' Bests
3000m (Ind.) - 10:13.07  |  Tyson Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)  |  02/15
5000m (Out.) - 16:55.21  |  Mt. SAC Relays (Walnut, Calif.)  |  04/19

Cross Country - Did not compete.
Indoor Track - Maria took to the track twice during the indoor season, both times finishing the 3000m run under her PR mark from 2013...She started the season at home with the Missouri Invitational, where she placed third with a final time of 10:14.90...She bumped that mark down another notch at the Tyson Invitational, where she crossed with a new best of 10:13.07.
Outdoor Track - Maria focused on the 5000m run during the outdoor season, once again lowering her PR time from 2013...She started the season with a 17:07.31 performance at the Crimson Tide Invitational, before breaking the 17-minute barrier at the Mt. SAC Relays, crossing in 16:55.21...2014 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll

2012-13
Seasons' Bests
5000m (XC) - 18:18.58  |  Greater Louisville Classic (Louisville, Ky.)  |  09/29
6000m (XC) - 22:04  |  Wisconsin Adidas Invitational (Madison, Wisc.)  |  10/12
3000m (Ind.) - 10:29.18  |  Collegiate Challenge (Columbia, Mo.)  |  02/15
5000m (Out.) - 17:10.58  |  Ole Miss Invitational (Oxford, Miss.)  |  04/13

Cross Country - Maria was consistently in the top seven for the Tigers throughout the 2012 cross country season, starting with the Iowa State Invitational where she finished second for the team, eighth overall, in 18:47...Hit a PR time of 18:18.58 at the Greater Louisville Classic...Earned another PR, this time in the 6000m run, the following meet, finishing fifth for the team at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational in 22:03...Ended her season at the SEC Championships in Nashville, Tenn., where she navigated the 6000m course in 22:48.66.
Indoor Track - Maria's lone meet of the indoor season was at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge, where she finished third in the 3000m run with a final time of 10:29.18.
Outdoor Track - Started her season at the Missouri Relays, where she finished third in the 5000m run...Ran to a new 5000m PR at the Ole Miss Invitational, finishing fifth overall in 17:10.58...Ended the season at the SEC Championships, hosted by Missouri, running 17:20.18 in the 5000m.

2011-12
Season's Bests
5000m (XC) - 19:50.24  |  Missouri Cross Country Challenge (Columbia, Mo.)  |  09/10
6000m (XC) - 22:27.37  |  Bradley Classic (Peoria, Ill.)  |  10/14

Cross Country - Maria finished ninth at the Saluki Early Bird, opening her Tiger career with a final time of 15:27.20 for the 4000m course...Came in 18th at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge, clocking a final time of 19:50.24...Took 44th at the Bradley Classic, navigating the 6000m course in 22:27.37.
Indoor Track - Did not compete.
Outdoor Track - Ran unattached at the Kansas Relays, finishing seventh in the 1500m run with a final time of 4:47.41.

HIGH SCHOOL
Bests
1600m - 5:08  |  3-mile (XC) - 17:42

Maria ran for Belleville East HS under coach Bryan Mitchell...CROSS COUNTRY...She was a three-time Conference and Regional Champion (2008-10)...Two-time IHSA State Championships qualifier (2008, 2010)...TRACK & FIELD...Maria was a four-time IHSA State Championships qualifier for the 1600m run (2007-10)...She was recognized as a member of the 2008-10 St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Team.

PERSONAL
Parents are Kevin and Ramona...Born May 20, 1993 in Belleville, Ill...Graduated high school Cum Laude...Was honored with the 2011 Young Women of Achievement Award...Won the Bob Baldwin Award...2011 Post-Dispatch Scholar-Athlete Award recipient...Made the Spring 2012 Dean's List...Aunt, Julie Effinger Merrill, was a five-time All-American swimmer at Mizzou (1977-81), and was inducted into the Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006...Is studying Elementary Education at Missouri.