AUSTIN (KXAN) – University of Texas at Austin track and field junior Akkelia Smith is on the rise with her best long jump and triple jump distances ever.
She just won the two jump events on her home turf at the Texas Invitational Track and Field Meet over the weekend. Her goals for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are becoming increasingly clear.
A first-generation college student from Jamaica, Smith dreamed of earning a scholarship and competing at the collegiate level.
“Back home, I heard that if you get a college education, you're guaranteed a job. I'm a first-year college student, so I wanted to accomplish a few things,” Smith said.
So far, Smith has made a name for himself at UT. She holds the 2023 NCAA outdoor long jump title, the school's triple jump indoor and outdoor records, and most recently won the 2024 Big 12 Indoor Long Jump Champion title.
“What do you think your younger self would say?” Jara Washington asked Smith.
“I think she was probably jumping up and down,” Smith said with a smile.
Behind most great successes are difficult times. When Smith moved from Jamaica to Texas, he said he struggled to rediscover who he was in the sport.
“When I got to UT, my first year was literally a mess…[I had] It’s about getting back into track and field again,” Smith said.
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Akkelia Smith is on the rise with her best long jump and triple jump distances ever. She hopes to represent Jamaica at the Olympics. (KXAN Photo/Jara Washington) -
Akkelia Smith is on the rise with her best long jump and triple jump distances ever. She hopes to represent Jamaica at the Olympics. (KXAN Photo/Jara Washington) -
UT jumper A'Kelia Smith speaks with KXAN reporter Jara Washington. (Kusan photo) -
A'Kelia Smith is on the rise with her best long distance and triple jump distances to date. She hopes to represent Jamaica at the Olympics. (KXAN Photo/Jara Washington)
Smith, who grew up watching Jamaican greats like Usain Bolt, said he is trying to focus on reaching that level.
“I’m on my way there,” Smith said.
The 2024 Paris Games are just a few months away and she is confident she will qualify.
“Everyone there might be working just as hard as you, maybe even harder,” Smith said. “And they're trying to be the best…Every time they jump, every time they throw, they're just trying to be the best.”
Smith has until June 30 to qualify and has a few more collegiate meets left to achieve the distances and triple jump distances: 6.85 meters and 14.5 meters in wind speeds of less than 2 meters per second.
She will represent Jamaica at the 2024 Paris Summer Games.
