After winning the first outdoor American Athletic Conference championship for SMU track and field in May, some Mustangs continued to compete throughout the summer.
“What I am most proud of is our conference championships,” Helena Perez said. “As a senior I wanted to be a part of SMU’s shining moments.”
In June at the NCAA Championships, Tova Magnusson and Lucija Cvitanovic competed and finished strong. Magnusson placed 12th in the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Cvitanovic took 17th in the heptathalon.
“A very emotional season has finally come to an end,” Dave Wollman, SMU Director of Track and Field, said. “Both girls competed with all their heart and I’m very proud of them.”
Cvitanovic went on to represent Croatia after the NCAA Championships, placing fifth in the European cup in multi-events in Maderia, Portugal. She had the top time in the 800-meter run, with a time of 2:17.62. Cvitanovic took second in the javelin, throwing 47.53. After two days of competition she finished with 5,388 points. At the AAC outdoor championship she shined enough to be named the Most Outstanding Field Performer, after winning the heptathlon with 5,345 points, and the javelin throwing 50.63 meters.
This summer Perez, now a graduate, received AAC Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence award.
“I would say it’s almost hard to believe I won this award,” Perez said. “I am of course honored for the award and be all the glory to God.”
Perez helped lead the Mustangs to the outdoor championship winning the hammer throw with a throw of 61.22 meters and placing third in shot put throwing 15.97 meters.
“I was not satisfied with my overall season.” Perez said. “It’s funny, because I do not see my last season as my best season.
Perez also won the indoor conference title in the shot put in the 2012 season.
“I may be disappointed regarding some of my performances, but as a whole the work the work I put in paid off.” Perez said.
Now, with track season over, cross country season is underway.
Winning the American Athletic Conference Cross Country championship in its inaugural season in 2013 wasn’t enough for the Mustangs. They went on to win the AAC Indoor and outdoor championship in spring 2014, better known as the track and field triple crown.
The Mustangs open this season at the Bear Twilight Invitational, Hosted by Baylor, where they also opened in the 2013 season and placed second.
The team is older this season with several returning runners who have the ability to make an impact.
At the Bear Twilight Invitational last year Agnes Sjöström and Tova Magnusson, now sophomores, paced the Mustangs coming in third and forth at their first collegiate meet.
The Mustangs head to Waco Friday and will compete in Texas for the Gerald Richey Invitational at Texas-Arlington on Aug. 13.
