Norfolk, Va. — University of Lynchburg women’s indoor track & field freshman Hailey Smith earned all-state freshman of the year honors as voted on by the Virginia Sports Information Directors announced Thursday.

Smith competed at the NCAA championships in Birmingham, Ala. in mid-March and turned in the fastest 800m performance from any DIII freshman on the season. Her 2:13.07 was a personal best and was over three seconds faster than her first-place finish at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference indoor track & field championships in February. Smith was also named the freshman of the meet after Lynchburg won its third indoor trophy over the last four seasons.

Director of cross country and track & field Jim Sprecher earned all-state coach of the year honors which paired nicely with his ODAC men’s and women’s coach of the year trophies from the indoor season.

Smith earned first-team honors for the middle distance events. Allison Dell (distance), and Aniya Seward (jumps & hurdles) also were first-teamers.

Dell placed third in the mile at ODACs and second in the 3k with a 10:16.42. Seward tallied All-America honors at the NCAA championships with a seventh-place finish in the 60m hurdles. She ran a school-record 8.65 in prelims. She also competed in the triple jump and placed 10th after an 11.67m (38’3”) leap. Seward garnered field athlete of the meet honors at the ODAC championships with a conference record in the triple jump (11.95m) and first-place finish in the long jump (5.46m).

Lynchburg’s ODAC champion 4×400 relay composed of Betsy Mohnkern, Vuronika Barnes, Madelyn Boyce, and Smith won first-team honors as well as Lauren Massey, Madelyn Boyce, Smith, and Molly Silva in the DMR.

Five more athletes brought in second team honors. Seward tabulated her third all-state honor with a second-team nod in sprints. Silva was a second-team winner for middle distance, and Kelsey Lagunas represented the Hornets on the second team for distance.

After winning the gold at the ODAC championship in the pole vault, Lauren Anderson grabbed a second-team spot, and Logan Babbs was on the second team for throws. Babbs placed third in the shot put and second in the weight throw at ODACs.

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