Former Fulton County Star Sharika Smith Jumps 42-08 TJ Named Sun Belt AOW

BAILEY, SMITH CAPTURE SUN BELT CONFERENCE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU track and field student-athletes Elvyonn Bailey and Sharika Smith were named athletes of the week by the Sun Belt Conference Wednesday night, with Bailey taking home Male Track Athlete of the Week honors while Smith won Female Field Athlete of the Week honors.

The award is the first of Bailey’s career while Smith notched her second athlete of the week award this season.

Smith, a senior, shined in her last-career home meet, shattering her own school record in the triple jump with a leap of 42-feet-8 inches. The mark bested her previous record by 10 inches, won her top honors at the Hilltopper Relays, leads the Sun Belt Conference and is the ninth longest clip in the NCAA this season.

Smith also broke WKU’s long jump record with a leap of 20-feet-10 inches on her way to a win at the Hilltopper Relays. Smith’s long jump was the furthest in the Sun Belt Conference this season by over a foot and currently ranks fourth in the NCAA. 

Bailey earned his accolade by winning the 400-meter dash at the Hilltopper Relays in 46.66 seconds. Bailey’s time ranks third in WKU history, second in the Sun Belt Conference and is tied for the 26th-fastest time in the NCAA this season.

Bailey will compete at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Cal. this weekend while Smith will head to the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.