April 28, 1999

Skyler Smith has signed a national letter of intent to run track at theUniversity of Kentucky, track and field coach Don Weber has announced.

Smith, a senior at Union County High School, has won the Kentucky AA StateTrack Championship seven times, and led his school’s team to twoconsecutive team championships in 1998 and 1997. His 1998 individualtitles include wins in the 800-meter run, as well as three relays (4×100,4×400, and 4×800) in which he had the team’s fastest split time. In 1997,he was the 800-meter champion, 4×400-relay champion and 4×800-relaychampion.

During the 1999 indoor season, Smith ran 1:54.71 in the 800-meter race,ranked by Track and Field News as the fifth fastest in the nation duringthe indoor season. He improved this time to 1:53.37 at the Meet ofChampions in Mobile, Ala., during the outdoor season.

The Morganfield, Ky., native played football for four years as a widereceiver and defensive back at Union County. He also ran cross-country asa senior.

“Skyler is a prospect we identified very early in his career as someone wewanted in our program,” Weber said. “He’s a gifted athlete with a passionfor running. His performances this spring already confirm him as one ofthe best high school middle-distance runners in the country.”