Jaci Smith Named USTFCCCA National Runner of the Week
9/4/2018 3:07:00 PM | Cross Country
Smith also captured the Mountain West Runner of the Week honors.
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Following an impressive performance in the season-opener, Air Force senior Jaci Smith was selected as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Division I National Athlete of the Week this morning (Sept. 4). It was one of two major awards for the Edmond, Okla., native on Tuesday, as she was also selected as the Mountain West Runner of the Week.
The senior kicked off the 2018 campaign with a dominating performance at the Wyoming Invitational on Aug. 31, as she captured the 5K title in Cheyenne with a time of 17:58.5. Running at an elevation of approximately 6000 feet, Smith easily won the 60-runner event, finishing 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the field, which included runners from second-ranked Colorado and a Colorado State squad that was receiving votes in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings. In addition to capturing her first individual cross country title, Smith paced the women to a runner-up finish in the team standings.
Smith is just the second Academy runner to earn the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award, joining Hannah Everson, who claimed the honor at the start of the 2015 cross country season. She is also the first Falcon to garner a weekly conference award since that season.
The senior kicked off the 2018 campaign with a dominating performance at the Wyoming Invitational on Aug. 31, as she captured the 5K title in Cheyenne with a time of 17:58.5. Running at an elevation of approximately 6000 feet, Smith easily won the 60-runner event, finishing 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the field, which included runners from second-ranked Colorado and a Colorado State squad that was receiving votes in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings. In addition to capturing her first individual cross country title, Smith paced the women to a runner-up finish in the team standings.
Smith is just the second Academy runner to earn the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award, joining Hannah Everson, who claimed the honor at the start of the 2015 cross country season. She is also the first Falcon to garner a weekly conference award since that season.
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