EUGENE, OREGON — At the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, University of Georgia freshman Michelle Smith played a key role in helping her team secure its first-ever women’s national outdoor title.
Smith, who hails from the U.S. Virgin Islands, earned a third-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles on championship Saturday. She posted a time of 55.20 seconds, contributing valuable points to the Bulldogs’ overall score.
Later that evening, Smith returned to the track for the 4x400-meter relay. Running the second leg, she recorded a 51.88-second split, helping her team secure a first-place finish in 3:23.62—a new school record. Smith’s performance came less than an hour after her 400-meter hurdles race.
The Georgia relay team, anchored by Olympic gold medalist Aaliyah Butler, closed out the meet with the win. Their result helped Georgia finish the championship with 73 points, well ahead of USC (47 points) and Texas A&M (43 points).
Head Coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, who previously led USC to national titles in 2018 and 2021, guided the Bulldogs to their historic victory.
Smith, who was earlier named SEC Freshman of the Year, is in her first year of collegiate competition and has emerged as a key contributor to Georgia’s program.
Smith is scheduled to travel to the Virgin Islands on June 17 and will participate in the Eunice Bedminster VI National Championships, taking place at the St. Croix Educational Complex Track and Field facility on June 21 at 10 a.m.
The Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation is encouraging all eligible athletes to register for participation. Registration details are available online at the Federation’s official website.
