Ackelia Smith (born 5 February 2002) is a Jamaican track and field athlete who competes internationally in both the long jump and the triple jump.

Ackelia Smith
Personal information
NationalityJamaican
Born (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22)
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Long jump, triple jump
College teamTexas Longhorns
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Long jump: 7.08 m (Norman, 2023)
  • Triple jump: 14.54 m (Austin, 2023)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Jamaica
Carifta Games
(U18)
Gold medal – first place 2018 Nassau Long jump
Gold medal – first place 2018 Nassau Triple jump

Career

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In June 2022, Smith won the Jamaican national championship in long jump with a jump of 6.56 metres and finished runner-up in the triple jump with a distance of 13.93 metres. Prior to that, in the same month representing the University of Texas she had reached the finals of the NCAA championships in both events finishing eighth in the long jump (6.34 m) and fourth in the triple jump (13.79 m). Selected for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the triple jump, Smith scored a big personal best of 14.36 metres to qualify for the final on her senior major championship debut.[1] In the final Smith jumped 13.90 metres to finish in 12th place. Smith was selected for the long jump at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England and qualified for the final with a jump of 6.35 metres.[2]

Smith was selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in both the triple jump and the long jump.[3] She did not qualify for the final in the triple jump. In the women's long jump, she finished eleventh in the final.[4]

She won both the long jump and the triple jump at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon in June 2024.[5] That month, she won the Jamaican national championships long jump title in Kingston, Jamaica.[6] In July 2024, she was officially selected in the long jump and the triple jump for the Jamaican team to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Ackelia Smith 'super happy' after big PB in women's triple jump". Jamaica.loopnews.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  2. ^ "CG2022 Jamaica's only competitor moves into women's long jump final". Jamaica Gleaner. 5 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Defending champions Fraser-Pryce and Jackson lead Jamaican team for WCH Budapest 23". World Athletics. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Women's Long Jump Results: World Athletics Championships 2023". Watch Athletics. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  5. ^ Mulkeen, John (8 June 2024). "Pryce, Long and Jones impress in sprints at NCAA Championships". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Ackelia Smith heads to Paris Olympics as national long jump champion". Jamaica Gleaner. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  7. ^ Levy, Leighton (7 July 2024). "JAAA announces star-studded team for 2024 Paris Olympic Games". Sportsmax.tv. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
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