May 30, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. (SMU) - Four SMU student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships with strong showings at the NCAA Midwest Track & Field Regional at the John Jacobs Track & Field Complex on Saturday, May 30, led by freshman Simone Du Toit, who qualified in her second event.

du Toit, who qualified for the NCAAs in the discus on Friday night, came back on Saturday to finish third in the shot put with a 16.39m heave. Also in the field, high jumper Viktoria Leks took fifth with a 1.78m clearance to qualify as well.

On the track, Silje Fjortoft was fifth in the 3,000m steeplechase in 10:16.79 to qualify and senior Ilyssa Pettigrew punched her NCAA ticket with a third-place finish in the 800m, crossing in 2:06.60.

The NCAA Championships are set for June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Full final results are available here.