Bahamian athlete Shakeem Smith, one of just a few Bahamians to ever run under 50 seconds in the men’s 400 meters (m) hurdles, is taking his career to the next level.
The 24-year-old Bahamian quarter-miler and long hurdler, done with his collegiate eligibility at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), is continuing his career in the professional ranks. Smith, 24, ran a personal best time of 49.82 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles last season, winning the conference title and becoming the sixth-fastest in that event in Bahamian history.
In cracking 50 seconds for the first time, running a personal best time by more than three quarters of a second, Smith won the Conference USA title at the Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
In addition to winning the 2021 conference title in the 400m hurdles, Smith also captured the title in the 110m hurdles and was a part of the winning men’s 4x100m relay team for the UTEP Miners. He was a member of the winning men’s 4x400m team indoors in 2020 at the conference level and finished second in the men’s 60m hurdles that year. Smith is a five-time All-Conference USA First Team member, a second and third team member, and a two-time selection on the Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.
At the Conference USA Championships, Smith recorded personal best times in both the 110m and 400m hurdles, running 13.73 and 49.82 seconds respectively. As mentioned, he won both titles, and was a part of the winning 4x100m relay team that finished in 40.03 seconds. Indoors, he has ran 6.96 seconds in the 60m and 7.89 seconds in the 60m hurdles.
Smith leaves UTEP as the school record holder in the men’s 60m hurdles indoors and the conference record holder in the men’s 400m hurdles, erasing a 21-year mark in that event. The time of 13.73 in the men’s 110m hurdles has him listed as the third-fastest
Bahamian of all-time in that event behind national record holder Shamar Sands (13.38) and Danny Smith (13.72).
At the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I West Preliminary Round at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas, Smith came up short in both the 110m and 400m hurdles. He false-started in the quarter-finals of the 11m hurdles, and was 13th overall in the 400m hurdles, with a time of 50.40 seconds, missing the NCAA Championships by one spot and 15 one hundredths of a second. He ended up 24th overall in the 110m hurdles.
“Shakeem unfortunately had to adjust his steps to the last hurdle in his 400-hurdles quarter-final, halting his momentum,” said Miners’ Head Coach Mika Laaksonen.
Smith said on Instagram that he is grateful for the opportunity presented to him by UTEP and he’s looking forward to his professional career.
“Thank you for all the unconditional support. My coaches, trainers, teammates and friends have played a huge role in my life on and off the track, mentally and physically. During these past four years, I got the
opportunity to spread love, train and compete with some of the top athletes in the world. Growing up as a kid from The Bahamas, I always wanted to be a neighborhood hero like ‘Spiderman’ and give back to the community. I’m fortunate to make it this far and I’m grateful for everything that was presented to me the day I stepped foot on campus. With that being said, I’ve decided to take track and field to the professional level like I’ve always dreamt of,” said Smith.
Smith was granted another year of collegiate eligibility after the 2020 outdoor season was cancelled due to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The season didn’t start off too well as he contracted COVID-19, but he rebounded and finished strong. Smith eventually took advantage of the additional collegiate season, winning three gold medals at the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and just missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
“I could say it definitely worked out,” said Smith on the Miners’ website. “I’m way stronger than last year so I’m grateful to still be here and get a second opportunity. I guess I could say everything is happening at the perfect time thanks to God and my coaches and everybody pushing me.”
Internationally, Smith has competed at CARIFTA, the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now World Athletics, World Under-20 Championships.
Prior to going to UTEP, Smith competed for the Florida Memorial University Lions in the Sun Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and represented the school at the 2017 NAIA Outdoor Championships.
The post Bahamian hurdler Smith entering the pro ranks appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-hurdler-smith-entering-the-pro-ranks/
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