University of Minnesota Athletics
Warm-Up Lap: Q&A with Lindsey Smits
4/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS -- Redshirt junior Lindsey Smits was one of five Gophers to run a season-best time in the 400m hurdles last week, propelling the Maroon & Gold to a national No. 2 ranking in the event with a team average of 58.96 seconds.
Emma Spagnola's new Minnesota program record time of 57.35 seconds leads the team and ranks seventh in the country, followed by Rachel Schow (58.08), Erin Huls (1:00.21), and Smits (1:00.21). According to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Event Squad Rankings, the Gophers are the country's second-ranked foursome.
Smits had a breakout season last year and is on pace for more this year. A year ago, she ran 400m hurdles PRs in six races, including four consecutive races, and took over three seconds off her time, going from 1:03.35 to 1:00.17. At the Big Ten Championships, Smits placed 10th in the 400m hurdles and anchored fourth-place 4x400m relay before qualifying for the NCAA West Prelim in the 400m hurdles as well.
A native of Lakeville, Minn., Smits was named a 2017 USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Get to know Smits on and off the track before she and the Gophers resume competition this weekend.
Name: Lindsey Smits
Hometown: Lakeville, Minn.
Major: Neuroscience
Favorite Class at the U: Developmental Neuroscience
Best place to study on campus: Bierman or Starbucks
Career Goal: Occupational Therapy
Favorite Outdoor Event: 400 meter hurdles
If you could play another sport at the U, it would be: Soccer
Favorite animal: Wolves
Advice for a young athlete: Make EVERY day count.
Favorite Netflix series: New Girl
Name one food you could never give up: Ice cream (even though I am lactose intolerant)
What actress would play you in a movie: Emma Watson
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Players Mentioned
