Hudson graduate competes at Trials

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Hudson graduate Anderson Smith injured his hamstring late in the steeplechase race during the semifinals of the Olympic Trials July 3 in Eugene, Ore.

Despite the injury, Smith finished the race to advance to the finals. However, his coach advised him not to run in the finals because he was not at full strength. Smith would have needed to finish in the top three in the finals to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team.

Smith also qualified for the finals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2007 U.S. Men's National Track and Field Outdoor Championships. During that year, Smith had two compartment syndrome surgeries on each calf.

Smith placed sixth in the steeplechase during the finals at the 2005 U.S. Men's National Track and Field Outdoor Championship. He signed a professional running contract with Reebok in 2005.

During his junior year at North Carolina State University, he qualified for the 2004 Olympic Trials. He also placed 14th at the 2003 U.S. Men's National Track and Field Outdoor Championships and also competed in 2002.

At N.C. State, Smith was a four-time All-American in the steeplechase and in cross country. He has won Atlantic Coast Conference titles in both the steeplechase and in cross country.

Smith was the NCAA runner-up in the steeplechase in 2004 and has the school record (2005) in that race (8 minutes, 29 seconds). He has won multiple Regional NCAA titles in the steeplechase and has won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Penn Relays.

Smith was ranked among the top 50 ACC athletes during a 50-year span (1953-2003) and was ranked first out of 25 Top NCSU Athletes of the Year during the 2004-05 season. He was awarded the ACC Post-Graduate Scholarship.

Smith lives and trains in Boulder, Colo., with Tempo Sports. It is a club designed to help Boulder elite runners through coordinated training sessions and support, including medical assistance and physical therapy.

He is coached by two-time Chicago Marathon winner and ex-world-record holder Steve Jones.

-- From staff reports

E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3914