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March 12, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The University of Texas Women's Track and Field Team posted a second-place finish behind 38 points at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships, Saturday night at Gilliam Indoor Stadium. The Longhorns, who finished 42nd at the 2010 meet, recorded their highest finish since 2006 and their ninth top-two effort in program history.

The second-place showing wasn't without drama as the Longhorns edged out the third and fourth-place teams by a total of three points. LSU placed third with 37 points while Arkansas finished fourth with 35 points. Oregon won the overall team title with 67 points.

The meet came down to the mile-relay, the final event of the night. Texas entered the race in second in the team standings and needed to either finish ahead of LSU and Arkansas or have Arkansas beat LSU to stay in second, which is how it ended up playing out. The Longhorns relay of juniors Stacey-Ann Smith, Angele Cooper, Kendra Chambers and freshman Briana Nelson, finished fourth in 3:31.11, the sixth-fastest time in Texas history and fastest since 2006.

Also scoring on Saturday for the Longhorns was senior Chantel Malone who posted a personal-best triple jump mark of 44-1.5 (13.45m) for third place. The jump is the second-best in Texas history and is just one inch shy of the school record of 44-2.5, set in 1986.

Cooper, who ran the second-leg of the mile-relay, also posted a fifth-place finish in the open 400m (53.15) to pick up her first individual All-American honor at the indoor meet.

Friday night, junior Mia Behm finished second in the 5,000m, freshman Shanay Briscoe finished second in the high jump, junior Victoria Lucas placed sixth in the high jump while Malone posted a fifth-place effort in the long jump.

The Longhorns open the 2011 outdoor season at the Black & Gold Challenge in Orlando, Fla., on March 19.

TEAM RESULTS
1. Oregon, 68 points
2. TEXAS, 38 points
3. LSU, 37 points
4. Arkansas, 35 points
5. Texas A&M, 32 points

TEXAS' RESULTS
4x400m relay
4. Texas A (S. Smith, A. Cooper, K. Chambers, B. Nelson), 3:31.11

Triple Jump
3. Chantel Malone, 44-1.5 (13.45m)

400m finals
5. Angele Cooper, 53.15

POST MEET QUOTES
Head Coach Beverly Kearney
On the meet: What we accomplished as a team today is absolutely amazing. I am so proud of the team, the staff and what we were able to do for the University. To fight the way that we did, says so much about this team. We knew we were going to have to fight for second and that's what we did. Chantel [Malone] didn't give up today after finishing fifth in the long jump and it showed with her huge third-place finish. Then you have Mia Behm, who finished seventh at conference, come out and finish second in the NCAA. You also have a freshman in her first NCAA meet, go out and pick up second. I can't say enough about what this team is capable of. The mile-relay is a testament to what we are about. Kendra Chambers strains her hamstring with 200 meters left in her leg and didn't quit. She kept running because she knew she had to fight for Texas. I'm just so proud of this team and I can't wait for the outdoor season.