The 2007 track season ended with two Mustangs making it to the NCAA Championships. Andrea Kvetova finished 12th in the javelin while Gaelle Naire placed fourth in the heptathlon, tied for 12th in the long jump, and placed 24th in the javelin and 15th in the 800-meters.

Naire, who is “jokingly referred to as Team Gaelle” by her teammates, according to head coach Dave Wollman, is a senior, but definitely left her mark while participating in SMU track.

“Having [Naire] on the team and develop into such a strong heptathlete increases our chances of getting the next great young heptathlete,” Wollman said.

“She was so talented in so many things and such a great competitor. However, I really believe her lasting legacy will be her passion for the sport of track and field. No one worked harder than Gaelle,” Wollman said. “No one wanted to accomplish great things more than Gaelle. The other girls saw from her work ethic what it really takes to be a great athlete and come together to be a great team. She was one of the most dedicated athletes I have ever known.”

Naire has graduated, but Kvetova still has a year of eligibility left and will be coming back to the team with NCAA experience

As far as the rest of the team, “We have some exceptional young talent that I am sure will step it up a level next year,” Wollman said, singling out Rachel Forish.

Forish was an All-American cross-country runner, but an injury kept her from competing during last year’s track season.

But it is the incoming freshmen that Wollman is most hopeful for. He said that six of the recruits have the ability to qualify for the NCAA Championships during their freshman year.

SMU has a strong history of men’s track, but with this past season and hope for the future, the Mustangs could become a force to be reckoned with on the women’s side.