.png&type=webp)
Women's Track & Field
Smith, Laton
Laton Smith
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Director of Operations
- Email:
- lurton.smith@rice.edu
Laton Smith enters her fourth year serving as the Rice women's T&F/XC assistant coach and director of operations in 2024-25.
With the Owls, she oversees all day-to-day operations for the cross country and track and field teams, including travel, meals and apparel. As a coach, she works with the sprints group for Rice.
During the 2024 season, Smith had several athletes scoring points at the AAC indoor and outdoor championships. She helped guide Kennedy Gamble into an all-time sprinter great at Rice, where she holds the school record in the 60m. Gamble also advanced to the NCAA Prelims in the 100m.
Prior to Rice, Smith served as Director of Operations for both the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs at the University of Michigan (2016-18). Smith handled a wide variety of responsibilities while in Ann Arbor, Michigan and also was a recruiting coordinator in 2016 for the Wolverines.
Smith served as head coach for the track & field program at Delaware Community College in 2016 in Media, Pennsylvania. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Albany St. in 2003 and would later become the assistant track & field coach for the San Antonio Heat AAU Club, specializing in the hurdles from 2009-13.
On the track, Smith was a star earning All-American honors in the 400m relay and 400m hurdles at Albany State. Prior to that, Smith was a national qualifier in both the 400m relay and the 400m hurdles at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1998-00).
Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing business management from Albany St. University in 2004 before earning her Master of Science degree in sport management from Drexel University in 2005.
With the Owls, she oversees all day-to-day operations for the cross country and track and field teams, including travel, meals and apparel. As a coach, she works with the sprints group for Rice.
During the 2024 season, Smith had several athletes scoring points at the AAC indoor and outdoor championships. She helped guide Kennedy Gamble into an all-time sprinter great at Rice, where she holds the school record in the 60m. Gamble also advanced to the NCAA Prelims in the 100m.
Prior to Rice, Smith served as Director of Operations for both the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs at the University of Michigan (2016-18). Smith handled a wide variety of responsibilities while in Ann Arbor, Michigan and also was a recruiting coordinator in 2016 for the Wolverines.
Smith served as head coach for the track & field program at Delaware Community College in 2016 in Media, Pennsylvania. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Albany St. in 2003 and would later become the assistant track & field coach for the San Antonio Heat AAU Club, specializing in the hurdles from 2009-13.
On the track, Smith was a star earning All-American honors in the 400m relay and 400m hurdles at Albany State. Prior to that, Smith was a national qualifier in both the 400m relay and the 400m hurdles at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1998-00).
Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing business management from Albany St. University in 2004 before earning her Master of Science degree in sport management from Drexel University in 2005.
2024 Night of the Owl End of Year Recap
Thursday, April 25
Tommy McClelland Introductory Press Conference
Sunday, August 06
2023 Night of The Owl End of Year Highlight
Tuesday, April 25
Night of The Owl End of Year Highlight
Monday, April 04
