By Alex Riley
Special Correspondent to SMUMustangs.com
 
 
DALLAS – Chelsea Francis' goals haven't changed. Her focus is still on performing well enough at the NCAA West Regional this week to make the national championship meet in June.
 
Yet, something about this regional feels different. Yes, the venue has changed. Traditionally, the West Regional has been held in California. This year it's down the road in College Station. But it's more than that.
 
Francis has competed at other regionals. In the past, it's been her and just a few other SMU athletes.
This go-round, the Mustangs are rolling deep – 10 deep to be precise. And a sense of confidence is tagging along.
 
"That makes it a lot better because you know you're going to have people that are cheering for you and it's better for the experience," Francis said. She'll be competing in the 100-meter dash and the 4x100 relay. "Normally, it's like one or two people going, so it's nice to have close to a whole team."
 
Between individual events and a pair of relay teams, SMU's contingent is close to the school record of regional qualifiers (11 back in 2011). The meet runs May 27-29. Success there means a shot at competing in Eugene, Oregon on June 9-12 for a national championship.
 
For these SMU standouts, getting to this point has been a challenge they've all embraced. COVID-19 safety protocols ended the 2020 outdoor season prematurely, then canceled the 2021 indoor campaign. Along the way, there have been rule changes about masks, social distancing, the number of people who can gather and other guidelines to help keep everyone safe and healthy.
 
Now, the finish line is in sight, both literally and figuratively.
 
"There's almost no words. It's been amazing. I think, at this point, I would have been happy to just have any kind of season with the last outdoor season getting canceled and we didn't have an indoor championship," senior Ashton Woods said. She's qualified in the 400 hurdles and as a member of the 4x400 relay. "I was just happy to get to run. To have all the work that I've put in come out to school records and some really great races has just been special."
 
The common theme for the Mustangs this year has been building true team chemistry. While track is very individualized in terms of performance, having a support system this year has been more important than ever.
 
Battling through the grind of practices, schoolwork and meets, along with the safety protocols dictated by health professionals, could have made it difficult to stay focused. To combat that, SMU became reliant on support from within, the result of which has been a team-centric mantra that permeates throughout the locker room.
 
"I've learned that track can really be a team sport. In the UK, it's more of an individual sport. My energy radiates off of everybody else and the energy of the team is very important," freshman Funminiyi Olajide said. She's qualified in the long jump.
 
With a support system in place, the Mustangs are eyeing a big weekend in College Station.
For Jernaya Sharp, moments like this are why she came back to Dallas. After four years at Notre Dame, Sharp used her extra year of eligibility to return closer to home. What she found at SMU was a team that welcomed her in and helped her find a new level.
 
In addition to being on the 4x100 relay team, Sharp also qualified for the regionals in the 100-hurdles. Along the way, she broke SMU's 33-year old school record for the event.
 
"I've been running for so long now that I know the more I practice the more my time is going to continue to get better. I was pretty confident throughout the year that I was going to get it but I was so excited when I saw that time at conference. It was a goal that I definitely wanted to accomplish this year," Sharp said. "That's what it's all about – peaking at the right time."
 
It certainly appears many of her teammates are doing that as well.
 
The goal is to perform well enough to advance to nationals. Along the way, if records fall, that's an added bonus. One thing is certain, the Mustangs will do it together and they plan to enjoy the ride.
 
"It never gets old. It's always just as exciting, as nerve-racking. Every time you're here with the best college has to offer, there's never a dull time," junior Chika Iwuamadi said. She'll compete in the 400 dash and with the 4x400 relay. "The excitement, the nerves, it's just part of the game."