Feb. 25, 2017

Final Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (SMU) – SMU wrapped up the final day of the American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday with two Mustangs reaching the podium as Holly Archer and Hannah Miller both finished third to capture the bronze in the mile and 3,000-meters, respectively.

Miller registered her second personal-best mark of the meet with a time of 9 minutes, 29.4 seconds in the 3K to nab her third medal (5K – silver, distance medley relay – silver, 3K – bronze) of the championships. The freshman picked up six points for the Mustangs and her time broke the old meet record of 9:29.77 set in 2015 by Temple's Blanca Fernandez. Connecticut's Emily Durgin and UCF's Anne-Marie Blaney finished 1-2 in the event with Durgin setting a new meet record with a time of 9:21.04.

Miller now holds the second-fastest time in school history in the 3K, 5K and as a member of the distance medley relay. Mary Alenbratt set the 3K in 2013 record with a time of 9:28.90, while Katie Swords has the 5K record with a time of 16:15.56, which was set in 1996. The distance medley relay team that set the school record (11:32.36) in 2012 was made up of Alenbratt, Lakeisha James, Kajsa Barr and Kristine Eikrem-Engeset.

Charlotte-Tara Murphy also competed well in the 3K and grabbed three points for the Mustangs with a sixth-place finish in a personal-best time of 9:42.26. The freshman time is the ninth fastest in program history.

Archer, who was running in her final indoor conference championships, did not disappoint as she left it all out on the track. The senior was aggressive early and led the pack through 800 meters. Archer, Blaney and Martina Rodriguez of Memphis separated from the group with 400 meters to go. Rodriguez took the lead with one lap remaining as Blaney and Archer went back-and-forth down the backstretch. Rodriguez was able to hold on for the win, while Blaney and Archer were close behind. Archer ran a season-best 4:50.59 to collect six points for the Mustangs as she secured her second medal of the meet (distance medley relay – silver, mile – bronze). Rodriguez set a new meet record with a time of 4:48.07, while Blaney finished second in a time of 4:50.06.

Murphy ran another personal-best in the mile with a time 4:56.27 to finish ninth.

In the field events, SMU got a big boost from its throwers as three Mustangs placed in the shot put. Tochi Nlemchi led the group with a toss of 52 feet, 1 inch (15.87m) to finish fourth for five points, while Jacquetta Cannon throw of 48 feet, 6 inches (14.78m) was good for seventh-place for two points. Daniella Murchison recorded a personal-best after winning flight one of the shot put on her final throw with a mark of 46 feet, 10.75 inches (14.29). Murchison picked up one point for the Mustangs finishing eighth overall after being seeded 11th coming into the event.

SMU finished in sixth place overall with 44 total points, finishing behind team champion UCF (122 points), runner-up Cincinnati (120 points), Houston (99 points), Connecticut (92 points) and Tulane (52 points).

Following the conference championships, qualifying student-athletes will compete at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 10-11 in College Station, Texas.  

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.



WOMEN'S TEAMS SCORES
UCF - 122
Cincinnati - 120
Houston - 99
UConn - 92
Tulane - 52
SMU - 44
Memphis - 43
East Carolina - 38
Tulsa -20
Temple - 17
USF - 15