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'Best friends' Tamia Waters and Lakesha Smith off to Middle Tennessee State

emilee smarr, palm beach post
·3 min read

DELRAY BEACH — Atlantic High track and field athletes Tamia Waters and Lakesha Smith have been at each other's side since third grade. In a Wednesday signing ceremony, the two put pen to paper to run it back for four more years as Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

"I'm committing to Middle Tennessee State with my best friend," Waters said, teary-eyed, looking over to a smiling Smith on her left.

Not many duos can say they went to the same elementary, middle and high school. Even fewer can say their friendships survived the woes of adolescence.

Turning their tassels to go take on the world "together" is just one of the feats that Waters and Smith have accomplished.

"It's been a tough four years," Smith said. "But the last two have been amazing."

August Batson, Tamia Waters, and Lakesha Smith (left to right) signed their Letters of Intent in a signing ceremony at Atlantic High on Wednesday, April 12.
August Batson, Tamia Waters, and Lakesha Smith (left to right) signed their Letters of Intent in a signing ceremony at Atlantic High on Wednesday, April 12.

Last spring, Smith placed fourth at state in the triple jump and won the event at districts, also taking home wins in the long jump and 100-meter dash.

She's rolled her junior year into a stellar senior season, most recently cleaning house in the Palm Beach County Championship meet with gold in the 100-meter (12.08), the 200-meter (24.88), and long jump (5.40 meters). Smith has had 15 more first-place finishes in 2023, highlighted by two PRs in the 200m (24.55) and long jump (5.70) at the Boca Raton Invitational.

Winning alongside Waters made the taste of victory that much sweeter — and bus rides back to Delray Beach that much more fun.

Waters racked up medals in 2022 as the district and region champion in 300-meter hurdles (43.56), 100-meter hurdles (14.29) and the 200-meter (24.71), hitting PRs in all three events. Running 56.71 to a personal best in the 400-meter and taking first in the 100-meter hurdles (15.04), she looks set for another postseason full of loot as the April 19 kickoff for districts nears.

"I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend the rest of this experience with," Waters said.

Take a look below to see which other Palm Beach County seniors signed this week.

Atlantic

August Batson, Keiser University wrestling

Lakesha Smith, Middle Tennessee State track and field

Tamia Waters, Middle Tennessee State track and field

Benjamin

Gavin Aydelotte, Lincoln Memorial basketball

Freddy Beruvides, University of Virginia baseball

Quinn Broderick, UNC-Wilmington track and field

Cole Grande, Samford track and field

Trakwon Harris, Savannah State University football

Parker McGraw, Harvey Mudd College baseball

Madelyn Popilek, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Grace Tighe, Pomona-Pitzer women's lacrosse

Lake Worth

Lake Worth basketball point guard Calvin Sirmans will stay in Palm Beach County. The two-time Palm Beach Post Player of the Year nominee signed with the Keiser University Seahawks on Wednesday.
Lake Worth basketball point guard Calvin Sirmans will stay in Palm Beach County. The two-time Palm Beach Post Player of the Year nominee signed with the Keiser University Seahawks on Wednesday.

Calvin Sirmans, Keiser University basketball

Palm Beach Gardens

The journey didn't stop at region finals for Palm Beach Gardens football players Desean Butler, Brand Campbell and Aidan Parker. The trio put pen to paper in a Tuesday signing ceremony at Palm Beach Gardens High to confirm where they'll spend the next few years.
The journey didn't stop at region finals for Palm Beach Gardens football players Desean Butler, Brand Campbell and Aidan Parker. The trio put pen to paper in a Tuesday signing ceremony at Palm Beach Gardens High to confirm where they'll spend the next few years.

Malik Anderson, Aurora University football

Desean Butler, Keiser University football

Selena Calix, Florida International track and field

Brand Campbell, Wabash College football

Blake Mathews, Palm Beach State College baseball

Madison Norris, Brevard College women's lacrosse

Aidan Parker, Alderson Broaddus University football

Cienna Thigpen, St. Petersburg College basketball

Park Vista

Josh Batchelder, Ann Maria baseball

Ryan Brown, Keiser University baseball

Olivia Clines, Texas Christian University beach volleyballAshley Delahunty, Southeastern University cheerleading

Chloe Fariello, Florida Institute of Technology softballMackenzie Feskanon, Webber International University soccer

Chris Giordano, Erskine College baseballShayla Grube, Southeastern University soccer

Jason Lashley, Indian River State College baseballMatthew Lashley, University of North Carolina baseball

Emmanuel Lim, Bluefield State University golfTrent Macdougall, Eastern University baseball

Katelyn Nadeau, Palm Beach Atlantic University beach volleyball

Elise Ratledge, Palm Beach Atlantic University cross country and track and field

Ella Scerbo, Valdosta State University soccer

Javier Soto, Santa Fe State College baseball

Bruce Thornton, Lynn University baseball

Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Atlantic track stars Tamia Waters and Lakesha Smith highlight week of college signings