Track finishes third at AAC Indoor Championships

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From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Finishes Third At AAC Championship

Feb. 28, 2015

NEW YORK (SMU) -- The SMU women's track and field team finished third at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championship on Saturday at the New Balance Track & Field Center.

The Mustangs finished with 83 points, 3.5 points behind second-place UCF (86.5) and 25 points behind champion Connecticut (108).

"The effort at a championship meet is what matters and we had a championship effort. Unfortunately, we came up a little short," said head coach Dave Wollman. "The first step to success is the failure you just experienced, so we will use this to motivate ourselves for the outdoor."

In the shot put, two Mustangs landed on the podium, as Tochi Nlemchi won the silver (15.19m) and Rayann Chin grabbed the bronze (15.07m).

Freshman Isabella Marten had an impressive championship debut for SMU, earning the bronze in the triple jump (12.84m). The Germany native also finished seventh in the high jump (1.67m).

In the track events, Holly Archer won bronze in the mile (4:51.92), with Karoline Skatteboe following in fourth (4:53.23). Archer also ran the final leg of the 4x400 relay, setting a new personal record.

"The effort by Holly was above and beyond," said Wollman. "What Holly did, running the 3k and then running a personal best in the 4x400, is exactly what we talk about when we talk about sacrificing for your team."

The 4x400 relay team of Rachel Scruggs, Shahira Ehiemua, Stephanie Kalu and Archer placed seventh overall (3:45.73).

Kalu landed on the podium, taking the bronze in the 60-meter (7.43), while Scruggs finished seventh in the 400-meter (55.56).

In the 3,000-meter, the SMU distance runners had another strong showing, as four Mustangs placed in the top nine. Karoline Skatteboe led the way in sixth (9:41.03), followed by Shanoah Souza in seventh (9:42.38) and Caitlin Keen in eighth (9:43.47). Melanie Stemper rounded out the top nine (9:44.63). Archer, who finished 11th (9:48.92) and Agnes Sjöström, who placed 13th (9:53.76), just landed outside the top 10.

The NCAA Indoor Championship will take place on March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The outdoor track season then begins on March 20 with the TCU Invitational.

SMU Medalists

Gold
Rayann Chin - Weight Throw

Silver
Sjöström, Ehiemua. Archer, Skatteboe - Distance Medley Relay
Tochi Nlemchi - Shot Put

Bronze
Holly Archer - Mile
Stephanie Kalu - 60m
Isabella Marten - Triple Jump
Rayann Chin - Shot Put

Team Scores
1) Connecticut 108
2) UCF 86.5
3) SMU 83
4) Cincinnati 71.5
5) Memphis 61.5
6) Tulane 56.5
7) Tulsa 49
7) Houston 49
9) East Carolina 45
10) South Florida 27
11) Temple 26