Athletics: Smith sets records

Kimberley Smith thrust herself into the ranks of New Zealand's leading women's middle-distance runners when she won two National Collegiate AA titles in record time in the United States at the weekend.

Smith, 22, of Auckland, set a collegiate record of 15min 14.18sec in the 5000m final in Fayetteville, Arkansas, winning by more than 30sec and lapping all the other finalists.

The record, which she beat by 3.10sec, was set in 1991 by Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan.

Smith won the 5000m on Friday (US time) at the division one NCAA finals and a day later won the 3000m final by more than 15sec, also in a collegiate record of 8min 49.18sec.

Athletics New Zealand high performance manager Tony Rogers, who is also a national selector, believes Smith has done enough through her performances this year to be selected for the Athens Olympics.