Spotlight Raven Series: Emily Smatlak (Women’s Track & Field)

Emily Smatlak will be entering her senior year with the Anderson University women's track and field team.

Smatlak qualified for nationals in the javelin as a sophomore after posting a school-record distance of 41.47 meters (136 feet, 0.75 inches). Her performance helped her land a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Field-Athlete-of-the-Week selection as well as United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-Great Lakes Region honors. She was also named a USTFCCCA All-Academic individual.

Smatlak claimed 18th place in the javelin during the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a sophomore with a distance of 37.45 meters (122 feet, 10.5 inches). She garnered first-team all-conference honors during the HCAC Outdoor Championships. Smatlak locked up the javelin title with a meet-record distance of 39.72 meters (130 feet, 3.75 inches). She also represented the 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400 relay in the same meet. The 4x400 secured a second-place finish with a time of 4 minutes, 10.32 seconds while the 4x400 earned third with a time of 50.36 seconds.

As a junior, Smatlak contributed to a third-place finish (4:17.24) in the 4x400 during the indoor conference meet. Smatlak has received academic all-HCAC recognition as a sophomore and junior. She was named the HCAC Sportsmanship recipient three times.

Fans can tune into the full Spotlight Raven Series interview with Emily Smatlak here.