UW Hall of Fame Class of 2011: 7 Inductees in 7 Days

In honor of the newly inducted members of the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, we will provide the seven inductees over a course of seven days.

Day 4: Shauna Smith, Track, 2002-2005

Hailing from Sheridan, Wyoming, Shauna Smith is one of the greatest female runners in the history of Wyoming athletics.  Smith began her career well, winning Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year honors for indoor and outdoor track and field.

She quickly built on her early success, becoming the first Cowgirl hurdler to win All-America honors, thanks to an eighth place finish in the 2003 USA Track and Field Championships.

In 2004, Smith was selected by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as the All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year.  The same year, Smith finished sixth in the 400 meter hurdles event at the US Olympic Trials by running a time of 54.42 seconds.

In 2005, Smith solidified her standing in Wyoming history by becoming the first woman in UW history to win an NCAA Track and Field title, winning the 400 meter hurdle with a time of 54.32, a record that still stands for the University of Wyoming and the Mountain West Conference.  Also in 2005, the United States Track Coaches Association selected Smith as the NCAA's Woman Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region.  Additionally, Shauna was able to secure a place on the US National Team and competed in the 2005 World Track and Field Championships.  At one point in 2005, Smith was ranked as high as 5th in the world in the 400 meter hurdle event.

Smith concluded her career at UW having participated in three events: the 4 x 100 meter relay team, the 400 meter dash and 400 meter hurdles.  Compiling her accolades, she finished as a five-time All-American, six-time MWC champion, and all MWC winner 14 times.  Smith is still the record holder in the Indoor 4 x 100 meter relay, the 400 meter dash, and the Outdoor 400 meter hurdles for the MWC and UW.  In all, Smith continues to holds six UW Track records.

Be sure to come back to kowb1290.com tomorrow for Day 5 in our series of 7 Inductees in 7 Days!

Story Archive:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3