April 22, 2017

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WACO, Texas (SMU) – For the second straight week, Holly Archer ran a personal best as the senior won the 800 meters Saturday to lead SMU at the Michael Johnson Invitational.

"It was a good showing with plenty of personal records giving us confidence heading into the conference championships," head coach Cathy Casey said.

Archer sprinted past Katie Willard of Texas A&M in cold and windy conditions with 50 meters left in the race to secure the win with a time of 2 minutes, 7.80 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest time in school history. Last week, the Bury Saint Edmunds, England, native ran a personal best in the 1,500 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays with a time of 4:22.92, which is the third-fastest in the program.

"Despite the crazy weather, the team didn't let that stop them and everyone went out there and competed hard today," Casey said.

SMU put together its first successful 4x100-meter relay team of the season, which included Alexis Center, Chelsea Francis, India Simmons and Latessa Johnson. The young relay that consists of three freshmen and a sophomore (Johnson) did not disappoint as the team finished third with a time of 45.66 seconds, which is the fourth-fastest in program history. Miami won the meet (45.28), followed by runner-up TCU (45.64).

Archer was the lead-off leg for the Mustangs sixth-place 4x400-meter relay team, which also included Francis, Johnson and India Simmons. The quartet closed out the meet winning the second heat with a time of 3:46.47.

In the 100-meter dash, Johnson and Center posted season best times finishing fourth and 11th overall. Johnson ran in the evening section and ran a time of 11.48 seconds (+2.3 mps), while Center won the afternoon section with personal best time of 11.83. Francis placed third overall in the 200-meter dash (23.93) and Center placed 13th overall (24.99), but won the afternoon section.

In the distance events, the Mustangs recorded three third-place finishes. Senior Shanoah Souza placed third (17:07.77) in her first 5,000m of the season, while freshman Alison Esparza also claimed the bronze in the steeplechase (11:55.88). Freshman Hannah Miller finished behind Hope Schmelzle (4:21.25) of Northern Illinois and Maggie Montoya (4:21.51) of Baylor with a time of 4:32.97. Freshman Charlotte-Tara Murphy placed 10th (4:39.57).

In the field, Kennedy Godsey posted two personal best marks in the throwing events. The sophomore improved by eight meters in the hammer throw with a toss of 146 feet, 0.60 inches (44.65m) to finish 15th. Godsey then placed 10th in the shot put with a mark of 43-09.25 (13.34m). Junior Jacquetta Cannon hammer throw of 150-09 (45.92m) was good for 15th, while she finished eighth in the shot put with a throw of 47-03.75 (14.42m). Sophomore Daniella Murchison only competed in the hammer and finished 15th (42-11.00, 13.06m).

Other notable performances came from juniors Anna Novosadova and Marlene Gomez-Islinger. Novosadova set her third personal best of the season in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.45, while Gomez-Islinger ran 2:20.30 in her first 800m of the season.

The Mustangs will have the next two weekends off in preparation for the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 12-14 at the Carl Lewis International Complex in Houston, Texas. SMU finished sixth at The American outdoor meet last year after winning the conference title in 2014 and 2015.

"There is still work to be done and we know we have to work hard these next two weeks." Casey said.

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