Hutchinson CC Standout Smith On Board With MSU Track And Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley has announced the signing of Atlanta, Ga. native Armond Smith to a national letter-of-intent. Smith will begin competing for the Bulldogs during the 2006-07 school year.
"Armond is the short sprinter we have been looking for to cap off this year's recruiting class," Dudley said. He has shown unbelievable flexibility in events ranging from the short hurdles, 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes. Armond will help get out short relay back to nationals."
While at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College,. Smith is a five-time all-American in the 60-meter hurdles (2), indoor 4x400-meter relay, and outdoor and indoor 200-meter dashes. His personal bests include 10.31 in the 100-meter dash, 20.87 in the outdoor 200, 14.21 in the 110-meter hurdles, 7.84 in the 60-meter hurdles, 6.64 in the 60-meter dash and 21.85 in the indoor 200.
As a prep at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., Smith was named Atlanta Track Club's Track Man of the Year in the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay. As a senior, his team won the state championship. The team captain finished second in the 110-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles and won state titles in the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays. For his performances, he earned the all-Performance award and was named GaFXC.com's Athlete of the Week on three occasions. As a member of the 4x1 and 4x4, he ranks on the all-time finals list in the events.
"It means a lot to me to be able to attend MSU," Smith said. "Coach Dudley is a good coach and a great man. My goal is to make it to the Olympics. I hope to be able to add to this team in the best conference in the country."
As a member of RHS football team, Smith was named Defensive Back of the Year and all-County as a junior. He was also a member of the Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA).
Smith also competed at the 2003 AAU Junior Nationals, finishing fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.05) and third in the 4x100-meter relay.
Smith is the son of Sharon and Ulysses Smith, Jr. His cousin, Sean Dillard, spent time in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins and in NFL Europe with the Cologne Centurions.