May 13, 2017
Day Two Results (PDF) | Sunday Heat Sheets (PDF) | Photo Gallery
HOUSTON (SMU) –
Shanoah Souza sprinted past the lead pack with less than a lap to go in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to secure her first career individual title on day two of the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The senior crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, 19.93 seconds to pick up 10 points for the Mustangs in the last event of the evening. It was the third medal of the championships for SMU and second of the evening. Souza beat the field by nearly seven seconds as Connecticut's Courtney Akerley placed second in 10:26.44, followed by Tulsa's Stacie Taylor (10:29.13).
Anna Novosadova grabbed the second medal of the meet for the Mustangs after a gutsy 800-meters performance in the last event of the heptathlon which propelled her to third-place finish with a personal best 4,713 points.
The junior picked up six points for the Mustangs as she recorded three personal bests in just her second heptathlon of the season. She shaved three seconds off of her 800m time to win the event in a time of 2 minutes, 22.36 seconds, which accounted for 792 points. Novosadova finished second in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 3 inches (5.56m) for 717 points. She improved nearly five meters in the javelin throw with a mark of 89-04 (27.23m) for 424 points.
In the field events, sophomore
Daniella Murchison recorded a personal best after winning flight one of the shot put on her second throw with a mark of 47 feet, 05.25 inches (14.46m). Murchison picked up two points for the Mustangs finishing seventh overall after being seeded ninth coming into the event.
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Holly Archer advanced to her second final of the championships as the senior won the second heat of the 1,500-meters (4:34.72), which was the fastest qualifying time. Archer will compete in both the 800m and 1,500m finals tomorrow.
The Mustangs sprinters are peaking at the right time as freshman
Chelsea Francis and sophomore
Latessa Johnson both won their respective heats in the 100-meter dash prelims to secure spots in Sunday's final. Francis shot out of the blocks down the straightaway to cross the finish line in 11.55 seconds in the second heat, while Johnson hit another gear midway through the race in the third heat to win in 11.56 (+3.2 mps). Freshman
Alexis Center put together her best performance of the season recording a personal best 11.68 to finish 10th overall. The sprinting duo of Francis and Johnson will compete in both the 100m, 200m and 4x100-meter relay finals tomorrow.
Action begins tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT with the women's high jump, while the first running event is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT with the finals of the women's 4x100-meter relay.
All championship information and results can be found atÂ
www.TheAmerican.org/OTF. Live coverage of the event can be viewed on any computer, tablet or mobile device via The American Digital Network (TheAmerican.org/DN).
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.
SMU Finalists
100m -
Chelsea Francis,
Latessa Johnson
200m -
Chelsea Francis,
Latessa Johnson
400m Hurdles -
India Simmons
4x100-meter Relay
4x400-meter Relay
800m -
Holly Archer
1,500m -
Holly Archer
5,000m -
Justine Anthony,
Rebekah Bosler,
Alison Esparza,
Marlene Gomez-Islinger,
Hannah Miller,
Agnes Sjostrom,
Shanoah Souza,
Charlotte-Tara Murphy
High Jump -
Anna Novosadova
Discus -
Daniella Murchison
Mustang Medalists
3,000-meter steeplechase -
Shanoah Souza (Gold)
10,000-meters -
Hannah Miller (Bronze)
Heptathlon -
Anna Novosadova (Bronze)
WOMEN'S TEAMS SCORES (After Day 2 – Seven Events Scored)
1. Cincinnati - 49
2. Connecticut - 44
3. East Carolina - 40
4. Houston - 37
5. UCF - 27
6. SMU - 26
7. Tulane - 16
8. Memphis - 15
9. Tulsa - 12
10. South Florida - 6
