SACRAMENTO, Calif. Kansas State senior Christian Smith accomplished a career-first on Saturday afternoon during the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hornet Stadium.
The Garfield, Kan., native earned his first career outdoor All-American honor, finishing eighth in the men’s 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:45.84. Smith was among the lead pack during the final two laps of the race. He progressed through the field and was in second-place with 300-meters remaining in the race, but tired in the final turn and held on to score one point for the Wildcats.
Smith becomes the first Wildcat distance runner to earn All-American honors since Joseph Lee finished ninth in the 800-meter run during the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The All-American citation for Smith adds to his impressive credentials during the 2006 season. In the outdoor season, he captured his first career outdoor Big 12 title by winning the 800-meter run. During the indoor campaign, Smith won a national title in the men’s mile and his third career Big 12 title in the 1,000-meter run. He also broke a 20-year old national collegiate record in the 1,000 on Feb. 4 at the Husker Invitational with a time of 2:19.57.
Smith and freshman Scott Sellers became the first pair of male Wildcats to earn outdoor All-American honors since Attila Zsivoczky and Jason Williams earned the honors in the decathlon at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Boise, Idaho. Smith and Sellers scored all seven of K-State’s points during the championship.
Senior Breanna Eveland was in action earlier in the afternoon in the women’s pole vault. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native cleared the opening height of 12-11.50 on her first attempt, but was unable to clear the next height of 13-03.50. Eveland led three other competitors at her only clearance to finish her K-State career in 13th.
In the team standings, the Kansas State men finished 36th with seven points and the Wildcat women finished 43rd with five points. All of K-State’s female points came from junior Candice Mills’ fourth place finish in the long jump. Capturing the team titles were Florida State on the men’s side and Auburn for the women.
The Wildcats will send a small delegation of athletes to the AT&T USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 21-25.
