Photo by: Marty France
Former Falcon Jaci Smith Named USATF Athlete of the Week
10/29/2020 3:03:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Smith posted a qualifying time to the Olympic Trials in the 10K at the Big City Invitational.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Jaci Smith, a 2019 Academy graduate and five-time All-American for Air Force in cross country and track, was named the USATF Athlete of the Week this afternoon (Oct. 29) for her performance at last weekend's Big City Invitational.
Almost eight months after placing 19th at the Olympic Trials marathon in Atlanta, Smith returned to the track to clip more than 27 seconds off her 10,000-meter PR and win the Big City Invitational at New York City's Icahn Stadium in 32:10.31. That time qualified her for next year's Olympic Trials in track and field and is the fastest legal time by an American woman this year. Smith was eighth in the 10,000-meter run at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships for Air Force, and finished sixth in the 5000-meter run at the indoor championships in 2019. She set her half marathon PR of 70:42 in Houston in January, before making her marathon debut at the Trials. (write-up courtesy of USA Track and Field)
In its 19th year, the USATF Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. Smith won this week's fan poll by a landslide, joining USATF Throwback Athlete of the Week Joan Benoit Samuelson on the Oct. 29 list of recognition.
Almost eight months after placing 19th at the Olympic Trials marathon in Atlanta, Smith returned to the track to clip more than 27 seconds off her 10,000-meter PR and win the Big City Invitational at New York City's Icahn Stadium in 32:10.31. That time qualified her for next year's Olympic Trials in track and field and is the fastest legal time by an American woman this year. Smith was eighth in the 10,000-meter run at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships for Air Force, and finished sixth in the 5000-meter run at the indoor championships in 2019. She set her half marathon PR of 70:42 in Houston in January, before making her marathon debut at the Trials. (write-up courtesy of USA Track and Field)
In its 19th year, the USATF Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. Smith won this week's fan poll by a landslide, joining USATF Throwback Athlete of the Week Joan Benoit Samuelson on the Oct. 29 list of recognition.
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