SMU Wins 5 Events to But North Texas Wins Relay Title

The North Texas Relays were a shootout from start to finish at the Mansfield Natatorium in Mansfield, Texas, with the North Texas women ultimately taking home the victory by just a four point margin over SMU and Tulane. The final scores were North Texas-404, Tulane-400, SMU-392.

The meet was reduced to three teams this year, with Houston and Arkansas dropping out and the addition of Tulane.

All three teams traded relay wins, with the Mean Green winning just two events. Despite winning just the 800 and 500 free relays, the depth of the North Texas team ultimately proved to be the difference, taking home more fourth and fifth place finishes, as well as only one sixth place.

Many of the relays came down to the wire, 400 free relay winner, Tulane, separated from second place SMU by  just 11 hundredths, 3:32.36-3:32.47.

SMU improved upon their third place finish last year at the relays and will look to take the American Athletic Conference crown back after a second place finish last year, as well as improving upon on their 1-3 dual meet record.

SMU’s 300 butterfly relay was three seconds faster than last year with three new swimmers, Marne Erasmus, Tiffany Sudarma, and Adri Santa, although the 300 backstroke relay added almost eight seconds from a year ago, slowing from 2.48.94- 2:56.79.

A big difference at the meet this year as compared to last year for SMU is the presence of the All-American Erasmus. She didn’t join the team until mid-season last year, but made a huge impact by finishing 3rd at NCAA’s in the 100 fly.

Meanwhile, North Texas will look to improve upon their fifth place finish in Conference USA from a year ago, and this outing suggests they can do so. A victory over SMU, although a relay meet, is a big step in the right direction for a program that went 2-8 in dual meets a year ago. She led the Mustangs off with a 55.93 split, which gave the team a significant early lead.

For Tulane, who finished sixth in Conference USA a year ago, this meet was a step in the right direction as well. Their 200 free relay was about six tenths faster than their opening meet a year ago, led this year by Joana Frantz in 24.16.

These three teams put on a fantastic show, with the meet coming down to the wire, and the times produced represent a solid foundation for the programs to build on this season.

Full meet results available here.