Posted: July 6, 2004

Athletics: Kim Smith Selected For Athens Olympics

From David Monti with Tim O'Dowd

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Providence College announced today that Kim Smith, their ace 5000m runner, had been selected by the New Zealand Olympic Committee in conjunction with Athletics New Zealand to compete in the Olympic Games in the 5000m.

Smith, who finished her third year in college this spring, had a sensational indoor season running NCAA records for 3000m (8:49.18) and 5000m (15:14.18). Outdoors she ran 15:09.72 and later won the NCAA outdoor 5000m title over Sara Bei of Stanford.

Although she does not have the Olympic "A" standard of 15:08.70, since she will be the only Kiwi competitor in the event she is permitted to compete under the "B" standard of 15:20.45.

Smith will become the 12th Providence College student to compete in the Olympic Games in athletics, joining the likes of Mark Carroll (IRL), Amy Rudolph (USA) and Sinead Delahunty (IRL).