Bowling Green, Ky. –
Western Kentucky University junior track and field student-athlete Sharika Smith was honored by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Monday, being named second-team all-America in the long jump and honorable mention in the triple jump for her efforts at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past weekend.
At Texas A&M's Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium, the Hickman, Ky., native placed 16th in the long jump to earn second-team laurels, while also finishing 17th in the triple jump to earn honorable mention.
Smith's accolades are the 75th and 76th such honors in WKU's storied track and field history. More impressively, she becomes only the sixth female to earn all-America status, and joins Jonathan Brown (2004) as the only WKU athletes to earn multiple all-America honors in the same meet.
First team honors were given to those who placed in the championships' top eight or were a member of an eight-person field. Second-team honors were handed out to those who earned final classifications between ninth and 16th place. Others who participated earn honorable mention.