Smith Qualifies for U.S. Olympic Trials
Jul 06, 2004 | Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kan.-- Kansas State sophomore middle distance runner Christian Smith has qualified for the United States Olympic Trials in Sacramento, California, July 9-18.
Smith finished first in the 800-meter run at the USATF Club Championships at the Harsh Track & Field Complex in Bloomington, Indiana. The Garfield, Kansas, native notched a new personal best, crossing the tape in 1:46.74. His previous personal outdoor record was 1:48.80 at the Miami Twilight on April 10.
Smith, who was a 2004 NCAA Indoor All-American, raced to a runner-up finish at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships, recording a new personal indoor record of 1:48.18.
K-State will send five current Wildcats to the U.S. Olympic Trials. The representing athletes are Smith, Kyle Lancaster (high jump), Morgan High (high jump), Chaytan Hill (triple jump) and JaNelle Wright (heptathlon). The Wildcats will also be represented by five former athletes or current coaches which include: Vanitta Kinard (triple jump), Nathan Leeper (high jump), Gwen Wentland (high jump), Sheila Burrell (heptathlon) and Karol Rovelto (high jump).
