BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri senior Blake Smith was named adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Field Athlete of the Week on Wednesday. Smith defended his long jump and 100-meter dash titles on Saturday during the annual Joey Haines Invitational hosted by the Redhawks at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex.
 
Smith's leap of 24'1½" (7.35m) is the longest in the OVC this season. He claimed victory in the 100 in 10.58 seconds, which is the third-fastest time in the league during the outdoor season.
 
"Blake is starting his final outdoor season strong," Southeast assistant coach and jumps specialist Matt Koelling said. "He's been bringing it every day in practice and it seems like there is nothing too difficult for him. I look forward to him hopefully breaking a couple records moving forward."
 
Earlier this year, Smith advanced to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he finished 10^th in the nation in the 60-meter dash in 6.66 seconds during the preliminary race. He fell just .05 seconds short of the final eight sprinters that decided the National Champion.
 
In 2014, Smith advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the long jump, where he finished 14^th nationally with a leap of 23'5" (7.15m). He was previously named the Athlete of the OVC Championship when he set a career-high in the long jump by covering 25'4" (7.73m).
 
Smith broke the OVC Indoor Championships 60-meter dash record with a sprint of 6.65 seconds on Feb. 28 as he helped lead the men's team to a conference title.
 
A native of Jackson, Missouri, Smith is majoring in Physical Education and has earned a spot on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.