June 11, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (SMU) - After a three-plus hour weather delay, SMU sophomore Silje Fjortoft qualified for the steeplechase final at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday, June 10. Fjortoft, running in heat one, was second in her race, crossing in 10:05.70 and trailing only defending NCA champion Jennifer Barringer of Colorado. The finals are set for Friday night.

Despite solid efforts on day one, four Mustangs failed to qualify for the finals of their respective events. In the day's opening event, SMU's Lauren Kuhner was 26th in the hammer with a 50.95m heave. In the women's shot, freshman Simone du Toit was 16th with a 15.62m toss. In the women's high jump, freshman Viktoria Leks just missed the finals with a 1.74m clearance. To advance to the finals, she would have needed to jump 1.77m, just 1.5 inches off her mark. SMU's lone track competitor at the meet, Ilyssa Pettigrew was 22nd in the 800m prelims, crossing in 2:08.79.

The meet continues through June 13th, with SMU's du Toit and Christina Mueller set to compete in the discus prelims on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.