University of Tennessee Athletics
Track & Field's Smith Earns Both Edamerica Awards For May
June 1, 2004
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| Leigh Smith Athlete of the Month Scholar- Athlete of the Month May, 2004 |
Senior javelin thrower Leigh Smith was named Edamerica Scholar-Athlete of the Month and Edamerica Athlete of the Month for May, the University of Tennessee and Edamerica have announced.
Smith, who is from Raleigh, N.C., earned the scholar-athlete recognition for the impressive academic marks he's earned as a forestry/wildlife major. His athletic honors came from the long marks on the javelin field.
In May, Smith smashed records with his heaves at the Southeastern Conference and NCAA regional meets. At the 2004 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oxford, Miss., his throw of 257-10 was not only good enough for first place, but it also set a new meet record and lifetime best for Smith. The mark stands as the best by a collegian this year and is the third-best throw this year by any American, collegiate or professional. It was Smith's third SEC title in the javelin.
Two weeks later, at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, La., Smith came up big in his final throw of the competition. His launch of 247-9 catapulted him to first place for the title.
The May honors are the fifth and sixth Edamerica awards given to members of
the track and field squad this year. It's the second consecutive month
in which Smith has received Edamerica Athlete of the Month honors.
