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North Van's Jessica Smith headed to SFU Athletic Hall of Fame

North Vancouver runner Jessica Smith has raced her way into the Simon Fraser University Athletic Hall of Fame, class of 2020.
Jessica Smith
Here's Jessica Smith as a 22-year-old preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games while wrapping up her racing career at Simon Fraser University. This year she'll be inducted into the SFU Athletic Hall of Fame. file photo North Shore News

North Vancouver runner Jessica Smith has raced her way into the Simon Fraser University Athletic Hall of Fame, class of 2020.

The Argyle Secondary grad had an extraordinary career at SFU, winning 16 NAIA national titles in indoor and outdoor track and field while also representing Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games while still a student. She is still the 800-metre record holder at SFU, a school that has produced many of Canada’s top middle-distance runners over the years.

While at SFU, Smith was named captain of both the track and field and cross-country running teams. She won NAIA national outdoor titles in the 800 metre, twice in the 1,500 m, and four times in the 4x800-m relay, while winning indoor titles in the 800 m, 1,000 m (twice), 4x800-m relay (twice), and distance medley relay (four times).

The class of 2020 also includes football player Neil McKinlay, wrestler Craig Roberts (posthumous), soccer coach Shelley Howieson, and journalist Howard Tsumura.

The inductees were announced last month but they will need to wait a bit to get their time in the spotlight. The induction ceremony, scheduled for March 31, was postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.