Smith Named C-USA Athlete of the Week

Smith Named C-USA Athlete of the Week

Contact: Jeremy Martin

4/12/2005

Chris Smith qualified for regional competition with a 17' 6-1/2" pole vault at the Miami Invitational

IRVING, Texas -- University of Cincinnati senior track and field student-athlete Chris Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) was named the Conference USA Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the week ending on April 10, announced by the league office. He joins Jo Young (London, Ohio/London) (Mar. 20) as UC honorees this season.

Smith won the pole vault at the Miami Invitational on April 9, vaulting 17' 6-1/2". The mark puts Smith at the top of the C-USA performance list this season and qualified him for the NCAA Mid-East Regional competition on May 27-28 in Bloomington, Ind.

Smith also qualified in the pole vault last season and captured the C-USA pole vault title in 2002. He also tied for fifth in the event at the 2005 USATF Indoor Nationals on Feb. 25-27 in Boston, Mass.

Smith is the fifth Bearcat to qualify for postseason competition this season. He joins Jimmy Mount (decathlon), Kenny Wade (200 meters), Renee Hein (high jump) and Young (shot put).

Smith and the Bearcats travel to Columbus, Ohio on April 15-16 to compete in the prestigious All-Ohio Championships, hosted by Ohio State. Smith won last year's All-Ohio pole vault championship, leading the Bearcats to the team title.