SMU Athletics

Mustangs Set Goals for AAC Indoor Championships in Birmingham this Weekend

Feb 23

Dallas (SMU), Texas -- The Mustangs have ambitious goals traveling to Birmingham for the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships this weekend, Feb. 25-26. Head Coach A'Havahla Haynes said the team is aiming to be a Top-3 team in the conference.

"The women are going all in on events and most of the team will do a double of some sort," Haynes said. "To be successful, we have to take the competition one event, preliminary or final at a time. For those with rounds, there is one job: making it through the preliminary round(s) to the finals. The goals then are to put as many Mustangs in the top-8 (scoring position) as possible."

Headed into championships, SMU athletes have 15 Top-20 performances within the conference. The athletes will look to capitalize on each one of those positions to bring in points for their team working towards that podium.

"The team has big goals, so there's always a little bit of nerves going into an important meet," Junior Maddie Hulcy said. "However, we have had some great workouts in the past few weeks, and I know my teammates are all committed to doing our best. So, I am excited to see it all payoff."

Hulcy will be competing in the 5k and the 3k with the goal of scoring for the Mustangs in both events. She said she will be thinking about her teammates while she competes to do her best to contribute points to a team win.

"I think we all just need to trust in our training and each other, and we will see the results we're looking for," Hulcy said. "There's a great energy of support on the team, we're all looking forward to cheering each other on across every event group, and hopefully getting a team win."

Raelyn Roberson is ranked in the Top-10 athletes within the conference in the long jump. Her goal is to place this weekend at the championships and, hopefully, obtain a season's best or personal best jump at the same time.

"I'm feeling pretty good," Roberson said. "We have been fine tuning a few things this past week so I am feeling confident. It will be a success if I feel good about my performance and my effort at the meet."

Roberson has a few phrases that will be on her mind while she is competing for a conference title: "Just run and jump" from her high school coach, "Trust the process" and "There's nothing you can't do."

Whitney Williams is currently ranked fifth in the conference for the 400, but is looking to move up into a Top-3 spot at this weekend's championship meet.

"(I want to) get a chance to stand on the podium," Williams said. "I actually feel very confident. I feel like I am prepared. My training has been good, so I feel like I will have a good showing this weekend."

She will also be competing in the 200, which she has the goal of a PR in, and the 4x400. Williams said the weekend will be a success for her personally is she executes her races to the best of her ability.

"It sounds strange but, before I get into the blocks, I always repeat the word 'fight' in my head," Williams said. "It is just a reminder for me to keep pushing and give my all until the very end of the race."

Both competition days will have live broadcasting beginning at 8:50 a.m.

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