Arkansas State track star Camryn Newton-Smith to represent Australia in Paris Olympics in heptathlon

JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas State track fans will have a familiar face to cheer for during the Summer Olympics coming up later this month in Paris.

Three-time All-American A-State track star Camryn Newton-Smith will represent her native Australia during the games, competing in the heptathlon.

The Queensland native took the Australia & Oceania heptathlon titles earlier this year, with her score of 6,180 at the Australian Championships in April being a personal best at setting her at 19th in the rankings heading to the competition Aug. 8-9 at Stade de France in Paris.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 11: Womens Heptathlon - high jump - Camryn Newton-Smith of QLD clearing 1.81 during the 2024 2024 Australian Athletics Championships at SA Athletics Stadium on April 11, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Heptathlon Long Jump Queensland Camryn Newton-Smith in action during the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships at SA Athletics Stadium on April 12, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Heptathlon Long Jump Queensland Camryn Newton-Smith in action during the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships at SA Athletics Stadium on April 12, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Speaking with Athletics Australia Sunday, the heptathlete said the excitement for the impending news was high for herself and her family.

“It means everything to me; I’m trying not to cry just thinking about it. When I do hopefully get the news officially, I think there will be so many tears of just relief and happiness to be honest,” Newton-Smith said. “My Mum has been doing the calculations for me all season, she’s pretty cluey with all of it. She went and read everything about the qualification system.”

While competing for the Red Wolves, Newton-Smith racked up school and Sun Belt conference records in both the heptathlon and pentathlon, along with other accolades.

Arkansas State heptathlete Camryn Newton-Smith competing in the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Photo credit Brendan Maloney.
Arkansas State heptathlete Camryn Newton-Smith competing in the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Photo credit Brendan Maloney.
Arkansas State heptathlete Camryn Newton-Smith competing in the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Photo credit Brendan Maloney.
Arkansas State heptathlete Camryn Newton-Smith competing in the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Photo credit Brendan Maloney.

Newton-Smith will be the 11th athlete to go from Jonesboro to the Olympics and will be the first former Red Wolf to compete since pole vaulter Jeff Hartwig was on Team USA during the 2008 Beijing games.

Arkansas State has a long history of sending athletes to compete in track and field events at the Olympics. Since the 1972 Munich games, Arkansas State has been represented at 13 of the last 14 Summer Olympics, with the only exception being the 1980 Moscow games, which were boycotted by the U.S.

from KARK https://ift.tt/N129CLX