Oct. 28, 2017
Results | Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery | Miller Postrace Interview
PHILADELPHIA (SMU/The American) – Led by
Hannah Miller's individual title, the SMU cross country team earned runner-up honors at the American Athletic Conference Championship Saturday at Belmont Plateau.
The Mustangs put together a score of 63, placing four of their scorers in the top-20 and three in the top-15 to earn All-Conference honors. Connecticut won the meet scoring 34 points, while Temple placed third with a score of 92.
"Proud of the effort the team put forth on the course. They gave it all they had and we just came up short," Head Coach
Cathy Casey said. "Connecticut put up a great performance today."
Hannah Miller led SMU becoming the first Mustang to win a conference individual title since Silje Fjortoft in 2011. Miller was the Mustangs top-finisher for the second straight meet finishing the 6-kilometer course in a time of 21 minutes, 18.9 seconds.
Tess Misgen and
Marlene Gomez-Islinger also earned All-Conference honors for the Mustangs placing eighth (21:57.5) and 10th (22:00.0), respectively.
"What a day for Hannah! She took it out and never looked back," Casey said. "She ran a fearless race on a very challenging course to take her first conference win."
SMU's other two scorers were
Charlotte-Tara Murphy (17th, 22:07.9) and
Alison Esparza (22:36.1).
Also competing for the Mustangs were
Rakel Barrientos,
Anneke Grogan,
Rebekah Bosler and
Julie Jungblut. Barrientos and Grogan placed in the top-30 finishing 28th (22:39.1) and 30th (22:43.5), respectively. Bosler finished 58th (23:47.4) and Jungblut placed 71st (24:18.7)
The Mustangs return to action at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships Friday, Nov. 10, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M's Watts Cross Country Course will host this year's event, which takes place with the women's 6K at 9:15 a.m.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following SMU Track & Field Team on Twitter at @SMUTrackFieldXC, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUTrackFieldXC, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SMUTrackandXC. Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.
Team Results - Women
1. Connecticut (34)
2. SMU (63)
3. Temple (92)
4. Tulsa (101)
5. Tulane (146)
6. Wichita St. (173*)
7. East Carolina (173*)
8. Memphis (208)
9. Cincinnati (209)
10. Houston (245)
11. UCF (321)
12. USF (323)
All-Conference (Top 15 Finishers) - Women
1. Hannah Miller, SMU
2. Brianna O'Brian, UConn
3. Mia Nahom, UConn
4. Haley Hasty, UConn
5. Lauren Bartels, Tulane
6. Grace Sullivan, ECU
7. Katie Leisher, Temple
8. Tess Misgen, SMU
9. Ashley Barnes, Tulsa
10. Marlene Gomez-Islinger, SMU
11. Courtney Akerley, UConn
12. Arnica Zitting, Memphis
13. Lucy Jones, Temple
14. Danielle Jordan, UConn
15. Madison Dunlap, Cincinnati
