Feb. 21, 2007

FRISCO - Texas State sophomore Robert Melin was named the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Outstanding Field Performer while Abby Ruston was named the SLC Newcomer of the Year Wednesday by the league's head coaches.

Melin swept the throwing events at last weekend's Southland Conference Indoor Championship while Ruston provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship in the shot put.

In winning the weight throw last Friday, Melin set a new conference record with a throw of 18.67 meters (61-03), breaking the old mark of 60-03.25 set last year by Stephen F. Austin Darwin Johnson.

Melin came up big on his final throw to capture the title. He was in third heading into the final round of throws with a mark of 17.96 meters with the top three competitors all competing in the second flight. Southeastern Louisiana's Dwight Womack led the event with a throw of 18.30 meters while Johnson was at 18.26 meters. While Melin came up with his record mark, Womack had a final throw of 17.30 meters and Johnson fouled.

On Saturday, Melin posted another first-place finish with a throw of 17.23 meters (56-06.50) in the men's shot put.

Also setting a Southland Conference indoor championship record was Ruston who had a winning throw of 16.06 meters (52-08.25) in the shot put. Ruston's mark was more than a meter better than the second-top competitor at the event. Her 16.06 meter throw came on her final attempt.