The SMU track & field team completed the final day of the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regional in fine fashion Saturday, picking up two more individual titles and four more NCAA Championship qualifiers at the Anderson Track & Field in College Station, Texas. The day's highlight, however, may have been Hannes Hopley's 67.66m discus throw, which set a new American collegiate record.

The reigning NCAA champion eclipsed his personal best by more than three meters and easily won the competition. Auburn's G?bor M?t? held the old mark at 66.91m set in 2000.

"This is the biggest surprise of my life. It's the biggest moment of my college career," Hopley said, bigger even than last year's national title.

Fellow SMU discus thrower Michael Robertson finished third in the event with a mark of 63.34m, as both qualified for the NCAA Championship in the event, held in two weeks in Austin, Texas.

Sophomore Soeren Lindner qualified for the NCAA Championship in the men's 3,000m steeplechase with a second place time of 9:02.99 in the event Saturday in College Station.

The SMU men's team finished second at the regional with 57.75 points totaled over the two-day event.

On the women's side, SMU senior Nevena Lendel won the women's high jump competition Saturday with a recorded mark of 1.82m. Lendel's mark was .03m ahead of the second place finisher.

For the two-day event, the Mustangs qualified 11 individuals for the NCAA Championship. This year's championship, in Austin, Texas, will be held at Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.

REGIONAL RESULTS