Colleges

Freshman sprinter has chance for two titles at national meet

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published March 8, 2007

GAINESVILLE - The task is daunting, no doubt. But if anybody is up to it, track and field coach Mike Holloway believes Calvin Smith is the guy.

Smith, a Tampa native and Freedom High graduate, will be among six men and four women who will compete for the Gators at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Smith is the only athlete attempting to win the 200 and 400 meters. He also is trying to become the first Florida freshman to earn All-America honors.

"Calvin has done a great job," Holloway said. "He came in like a lot of freshmen who aren't used to training at the level that we train, and he struggled a little bit.

"The big thing for Calvin was to be patient. He's a phenomenal talent. The sky's the limit. His progression is right along with any freshman I've ever had here, and I expect very big things from him in the future."

Smith is the son of the former 100-meter world record-holder of the same name. He and Florida State's Ricardo Chambers have run the fastest 400 46.05 this season. And Smith has run the 10th-fastest 200 (20.98).

ESPN2 will air highlights of the meet at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Basketball honors

It took four years, but Chris Richard is finally getting his due. The 2003 Florida Mr. Basketball was named the SEC's sixth man of the year by league coaches on Wednesday. Teammate Lee Humphrey, who carries a 3.68 grade point average while majoring in applied physiology, was named scholar athlete of the year.

More basketball honors

Forwards Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah and center Al Horford were named to the All-SEC first team while guard Taurean Green was named to the second team.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 7, 2007, 23:59:26]