Whitney Smith

Position:
Freestyle
Height:
5-6
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Richmond, Va.

Career Best Times:
4:48.61 in the 500-yard freestyle; 9:52.47 in the 1000-yard freestyle; 16:26.69 in the 1650-yard freestyle; 4:23.00 in the 400-yard individual medley.

General:
Ranks fifth in UNC history in the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.61), fourth in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:52.47) and fourth in the 1650-yard freestyle (16:26.69)...participated for the U.S. Team at the World Cup in Shanghai, China on December 1-2, 2002...was a terrific addition to the Tar Heels distance corps three years ago…swam for NOVA of Virginia under coach Geoff Brown…was the Junior National champion in the 1000 and 1650 freestyles…is the Virginia state record holder in the 1650 freestyle…was the NOVA team captain in 1999 and was also the coaches award winner...a tremendous student at Carolina.

2002-03:
Had tremendous season...set personal bests in 1000 free, 1650 free and 400 IM...2003 NCAA Championships qualifier...earned honorable mention All-America honors...swam the opening leg on the Tar Heels’ 800-yard freestyle relay which finished 10th...captured 25th place in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:35.87...finished 39th in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:51.69...was 57th in the 200 free at 1:51.74...at the 2003 ACC Championships, she placed fifth in the 500 free at 4:49.16, 14th in the 400 IM at 4:24.12 and sixth in the 1650 free at 16:44.07...she also led off the 800 free relay team which took second place...competed for the U.S. at the FINA Swimming World Cup in Shanghai in December 2002...placed ninth there in the 800-meter freestyle, 11th in the 400-meter freestyle, 17th in the 400-meter individual medley and 22nd in the 200-meter freestyle...named ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Week on February 3, 2003...named to the 2002-03 ACC Academic Honor Roll...also tapped for the UNC Dean’s List in both semesters of the 2002-03 school year.

Summer 2002:
Set the school record in the 800-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals with a time of 8;48.76...broke Chrissy Miller’s school record by more than three seconds...qualified for 2004 Olympic Trials in the event...Smith also took ninth in the 1500-meter freestyle and ninth in the five-kilometer open water swim.

2001-02:
Won the Jamerson Memorial Award as the Most Improved Swimmer on the 2001-02 Carolina women’s swimming team...set her career best times in the 500 free and 1650 free...a 2002 NCAA qualifier in the mile and 500 free...awarded a CSCAA All-Academic Award with a 3.944 GPA...Dean’s List selection both semesters last year...chosen for 2002 ACC Academic Honor Roll...despite illness at ACC Championships she placed fifth in 500 free and competed in 400 IM and 1650 free...had 4.0 in spring semester 2002.

Summer 2001:
Competed in the USS Southern Sectional at Georgia where she was seventh in the 400 free, eighth in the 800 free and 21st in the 200 free.

2000-2001:
At the 2001 ACC Championships she finished 10th in the 500-yard freestyle, 12th in the 400-yard individual medley and fifth in the 1650-yard freestyle...named to 2001 ACC Academic Honor Roll...was a Dean’s List student both semesters.

Prep:
Graduated on June 12, 2000 from Mills E. Godwin High School…was on the All-Metro team from 1998-2000….was a Scholastic All America for those three years as well…was a Richmond-Times Dispatch Scholar Athlete of the Month…also recipient of the Richmond Scholar Athlete Award…was a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Math Honor Society…also a member of the Beta Club, Spanish Club, Keyettes, SOHO and SODA.

Personal:
Given name is Whitney Lynn Smith...nicknamed “Princess” and “Whicky” by her teammates…was born October 30, 1981 in Richmond, Va.…is the daughter of Sherry and Edmond Smith…has two sisters, one of whom swam for the University of Richmond…also has a cousin who plays basketball at Penn State…hobbies include waterskiing, sleeping, scrapbooking, reading and sunbathing…athletes she most admires are Janet Evans and Josh Davis…her biggest athletic thrill was winning Junior Nationals in 1000 and 1650, qualifying for Olympic Trials and competing at 2002 NCAA’s…plans to major in elementary education…would like to pursue a career as a teacher.