CINCINNATI (SMU) – In a continuation of her stellar senior season, thrower
Tochi Nlemchi claimed her second career conference shot put title on Sunday as the Mustangs took fifth place at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nlemchi's personal best mark of 17.05m pushed her ahead of the competition, but also broke a slew of records including the meet record, Gettler Stadium record and American Athletic Conference record. She moves into third place all-time for shot put in the SMU record books.
The Mustangs claimed six additional All-Conference Honors on the final day of competition as four SMU student athletes found the conference awards podium.
Latessa Johnson dominated the 200-meter dash finals with a time of 22.77 that earned her a silver medal and pushed her past her own SMU record of 22.80.The mark also puts her at No. 13 in the nation in the 200-meter. The bronze medal went to
Chelsea Francis as she recorded a time of 23.38 to find the podium.
The SMU sprints duo also took the second and third place spots in the 100-meter dash, with Johnson finding a time of 11.36 for silver and Francis claiming bronze after clocking 11.47. Both sprinters hold qualifying marks for this month's NCAA West Preliminary in the 100- and 200-meter events.
Distance standout
Hannah Miller rounded out SMU's running victories with a silver medal finish of 16:55.72 in the evening's 5,000-meters. Two other Mustangs added to SMU's team point total in the event, with
Marlene Gomez-Islinger finishing fifth (17:29.44) for four points and
Svenja Ojstersek finishing eighth (17:33.84) for one point.
Atipa Mabonga had her best triple jump performance of her college career to take home SMU's final medal. The freshman set a PR of 12.62 in her first jump but went on to surpass it just two jumps later with a final mark of 12.69m, earning her second place and All-Conference in the event.
After being seeded ninth in the 400-meter hurdles, junior
Madison Pyle contributed to the team total with a fourth-place finish in the event. After setting a new PR in the preliminary race on Friday, Pyle outdid herself again, running the race in 1:00.05 to set a new school record.
The Mustangs totaled 82 points to finish just five points behind Connecticut (87) in the final team rankings. Houston earned the conference title with 113 points, followed by East Carolina with 91 and Cincinnati with 90.50.
The Mustangs with qualifying marks look ahead to the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, California on May 24-26.
SMU Results – American Athletic Conference Outdoor T&F Championships Day Three
High Jump
5
Cassie Ackemann 1.73m
Triple Jump
2
Atipa Mabonga 12.69m (41-7.75) – All-Conference Silver, PR
Shot Put
1
Tochi Nlemchi 17.05m (55-11.25) – All-Conference Gold, PR, AAC Meet Record, Stadium Record, AAC Record, 3
rd Best at SMU
17
Daniella Murchison 13.19m (43-3.25)
100m Finals
2
Latessa Johnson 11.36 – All-Conference Silver, PR
3
Chelsea Francis 11.47 – All-Conference Bronze
400m Hurdles Finals
4
Madison Pyle 1:00.05 – PR, SMU Record
200m dash finals
2
Latessa Johnson 22.77 – All-Conference Silver, PR, SMU Record
3
Chelsea Francis 23.38 – All-Conference Bronze
5000m
2
Hannah Miller 16.55.72 – All-Conference Silver
5
Marlene Gomez-Islinger 17:29.44
8
Svenja Ojstersek 17:33.84
13
Anneke Grogan 18:00.63
18
Charlotte-Tara Murphy 18:10.52
24
Julie Jungblut 18:19.51
30
Alison Esparza 18:35.20
34
Robin Montemayor 18:58.66
SMU All-Conference Finishers
Tochi Nlemchi – Shot Put (Gold)
Latessa Johnson – 100m (Silver), 200m (Silver)
Hannah Miller – 10,000m (Bronze), 5,000m (Silver)
Chelsea Francis – 100m (Bronze), 200m (Bronze)
Atipa Mabonga – Triple Jump (Silver)
Svenja Ojstersek – 10,000m (Silver)
