Smith missed out on a NEC title in the hammer throw by a mere nine inches last year, but has opened the 2011 season by taking the early league lead in the event. SHU’s throws specialist a winning bomb of 55.19m (181’ 1") in the hammer at West Point’s the Dick Shea Open (Mar. 26). More than 4.0 meters above the ECAC Championships qualifying mark, Smith’s throw ranks more than 1.5 feet better than the season-opening mark defending NEC champion Symmone Fisher produced this past weekend.