ZIPS NATIONAL CHAMPION, CHRISTI SMITH
INDUCTED INTO MAC HALL OF FAME
C
hristi Smith, the school's first individual
national champion, was one of seven
former student-athletes inducted into the
Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in May.
Smith, who captured gold in the women's heptathlon at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Track and
Field Championships, is the first Akron athlete to
earn the prestigious honor.
Joining Smith in this year's class were Dave
Keilitz (Central Michigan - Baseball),
Kim Knuth (Toledo - Women's
Basketball), Bill Mallory (Miami/
Northern Illinois - Football),
Brad Maynard (Ball State Football), John Offerdahl
(Western Michigan Football) and Gary Trent
(Ohio - Men's Basketball).
The 2013 class brings the
number of MAC Hall of Fame
inductees to 65 individuals
from eight classes.
Christi Smith Snapshot
>> Four-time All-American was the school's first
individual national champion and first female
U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier.
>> Established 11 school records at UA from
1997-2000, including two (outdoor long jump
and heptathlon) that still stand today.
>> Posted 11 wins in the long jump, triple jump,
pentathlon and heptathlon events at the MAC
Indoor and Outdoor Champinoships from 19982000, earning first-team All-MAC honors seven
times.
60
