Athletic Hall of Fame

Mark Smith

Sport(s): Track

Graduating Class: 1986

Induction Class: 1999

Was one of the best long-distance runners in EMU men's track history...Earned All-America honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase three times after finishing 11th in 1981-82, 12th in 1982-83 and 4th in 1985-86 at the NCAA Championships...Just missed making the United States Olympic team in 1988 when he finished fourth in the steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trials with the top three qualifying...Won the Mid-American Conference steeplechase title four times, in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986, and also captured the 10,000-meter title in 1984 and the 5,000-meter crown in 1982 and 1986...Turned in one of the most outstanding performances in MAC distance history at the 1984 outdoor championships at Kent when he won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in an NCAA qualifying time of 8:48, won the 10,000 meters in a Dix Stadium record time of 29:30.73 and finished second in the 5,000 meters in 14:30... Named the MAC Trackman of the Week twice, for winning the steeplechase at the 1983 Drake Relays and qualifying for the NCAA Meet in the same event at the Dogwood Relays in 1986....Helped lead EMU to the MAC outdoor championship in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986...Finished third in the 1986 MAC cross country championship to help EMU win the title and give him his fourth All-MAC finish in cross country...After completing his eligibility he turned into a terrific road racer, winning the Volkslaufe 20K in Frankenmuth, The Borgess 15K, 10K and 5K in one morning in Kalamazoo, the Las Vegas 1/2 marathon, the Elias Brothers 10K in Pontiac and the Old Kent River Bank 25K in Grand Rapids in a then-world record time, all in the summer of 1988...He won the Dexter-Ann Arbor 10K in 1991 and the 1/2 marathon in 1992...Currently works in building and remodeling in the Traverse City area.

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