Oct. 11, 2000

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State University intermediate hurdler, Randi Smith, is one of 41 student-athletes set to compete for the USA Track & Field Team at the 2000 IAAF World Junior Championships at Santiago, Chile, Oct. 17-22. This meet is traditionally a preview of competitors at the next Olympics (Athens 2004).

Smith, a junior from Beverly Hills, Calif., qualified for the World Junior Championships when she finished second in the women's 400m hurdles at the USATF Junior National Championships, June 24, at Denton, Texas. Smith's time of 57.07 seconds is a WSU school record and the fifth-fastest time in the world this year for a junior competitor (ages 14-19).

The USATF Junior National 400m hurdles champion, Sheena Johnson, from Woodbridge, Virginia, is not competing at the World Championships. Johnson, now a freshman at UCLA, ran a time of 56.82, the third-fastest time in the world in this event this year. Australia's Jana Pittman, who ran in the Olympics but did not advance from the preliminary heats, has clocked the fastest time at 55.20.

As a sophomore, Smith ran a school record and NCAA Provisional Qualifying time of 57.61 seconds in the 400m intermediate hurdles last spring at the Stanford Invitational (March 26). She finished sixth at the 2000 Pacific-10 Conference Championships, clocking in at 59.83. At the NCAA meet, Smith did not advance to the final of the women's 400m IH after clocking a 58.80 in the semifinals, finishing 16th out of 20 runners.

'We're very proud of her accomplishments and being one of the top young hurdlers in the world,' Cougar Track and Field coach Rick Sloan said. 'She's on the national junior team for the second year in a row. This will be her first world championship. We're pleased she's out there gaining international experience and representing the USA and Washington State University in a world arena.'

Smith's 400m intermediate hurdles first round heats will be run Wednesday, Oct. 18 (11 a.m. local time) with the semifinals set for Thursday, Oct. 19 (3 p.m.). The final is set for Saturday, Oct. 20 (4:50 p.m.).

For a complete USA roster and World Championships meet schedule, go to www.usatf.org.