Oct. 31, 2009

Highlights

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (SMU) - The SMU women's team took the C-USA Championship for the second year in a row, claiming the first back-to-back title since 2004 when Marquette notched its fifth consecutive win.

"The girls all ran amazing," said two-time C-USA Women's Coach of the Year Cathy Casey of SMU. "They ran with heart especially on this muddy course. They never let it bother them. Everybody switched up places and did a great job. They all wanted the championship again and you could tell. We had eight girls out there who all ran with their hearts and I'm very proud of them."

Finishing in second place overall was junior Silje Fjortoft who led the Mustangs with a time of 18:01.6. SMU freshmen Sara Sjokvist and Veronika Blom crossed the finish line at 18:11.8 and 18:16.3, placing third and fourth, respectively.

UTEP took second-place honors as a team, improving upon its seventh place showing from a year ago. Rice and Tulsa finished third (82) and fourth (90), respectively, while host Houston placed fifth (138) and UAB finished in sixth (154). East Carolina, Southern Miss, UCF, Tulane, Memphis, and Marshall completed the women's field.

SMU will be one of numerous C-USA teams competing in the upcoming NCAA Regionals on Nov. 14, followed by the NCAA Championship on Nov. 23.

2009 C-USA WOMEN'S FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. SMU 28
2. UTEP 40
3. Rice 82
4. Tulsa 90
5. Houston 138
6. UAB 154
7. East Carolina 193
8. Southern Miss 205
9. UCF 222
10. Tulane 254
11. Memphis 327
12. Marshall 338

Individual Medalist: Risper Kimaiyo, UTEP
Outstanding Senior: Jamie Rzepecki, UCF
Freshman of the Year: Risper Kimaiyo, UTEP
Coach of the Year: Cathy Casey, SMU