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If you happened to attend the Missouri State Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City, where the Lee’s Summit North girls won their first Class 4 state title, then you will know why hurdler Madison Smith is The Examiner’s girls performer of the year.
If you weren’t in Jefferson City, then check out the senior star’s stats for the day.
Smith won the 100-meter hurdles, was second in the 300 hurdles, was on the third-place 400 relay team and the fifth-place 1,600 relay squad.
She was a big reason the Broncos totaled 58 points to top crosstown rival Lee’s Summit West, as the Titans came in second with 47.
At the time, North coach Ed Brill called the first title, “A cumulative effort. Everyone just ran out of their mind or jumped out of their mind. We’ve talked in the past about what Maddie means to this team, and she scored a ton of points for us today. I just feel so blessed.”
And so does Smith, who will take her considerable talent to the University of Central Missouri, where she will join the Mules track team.
“I had a dream senior season,” said Smith, who dominated the area hurdling scene the past two years. “I was able to defend my (state) title in the 100 hurdles, and we won a state championship.
“Does it get any better than that?
Before the start of her dream season, Brill asked his team to fill out sheets, where they could list their upcoming goals.
“I put winning state as my top goal,” Smith said. “I knew we had more depth than teams have had in the past, and I knew we had a lot of talent in a lot of areas.
“Personally, I wanted to win the 100 hurdles at state again, but the only real goal I had was winning state.
“When we won state, I can’t even describe the feeling I had. It was amazing. It was raining, but no one cared. We just wanted to get on that podium and celebrate.”
Smith’s journey to a state championship and elite status as The Examiner’s top female performer began six years ago.
“My sister Caitlyn ran track in middle school, and I was in the seventh grade and I wanted to run track,” Smith said. “She ran hurdles, and I told her that I was going to run the hurdles and be better than her.
If you happened to attend the Missouri State Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City, where the Lee’s Summit North girls won their first Class 4 state title, then you will know why hurdler Madison Smith is The Examiner’s girls performer of the year.
If you weren’t in Jefferson City, then check out the senior star’s stats for the day.
Smith won the 100-meter hurdles, was second in the 300 hurdles, was on the third-place 400 relay team and the fifth-place 1,600 relay squad.
She was a big reason the Broncos totaled 58 points to top crosstown rival Lee’s Summit West, as the Titans came in second with 47.
At the time, North coach Ed Brill called the first title, “A cumulative effort. Everyone just ran out of their mind or jumped out of their mind. We’ve talked in the past about what Maddie means to this team, and she scored a ton of points for us today. I just feel so blessed.”
And so does Smith, who will take her considerable talent to the University of Central Missouri, where she will join the Mules track team.
“I had a dream senior season,” said Smith, who dominated the area hurdling scene the past two years. “I was able to defend my (state) title in the 100 hurdles, and we won a state championship.
“Does it get any better than that?
Before the start of her dream season, Brill asked his team to fill out sheets, where they could list their upcoming goals.
“I put winning state as my top goal,” Smith said. “I knew we had more depth than teams have had in the past, and I knew we had a lot of talent in a lot of areas.
“Personally, I wanted to win the 100 hurdles at state again, but the only real goal I had was winning state.
“When we won state, I can’t even describe the feeling I had. It was amazing. It was raining, but no one cared. We just wanted to get on that podium and celebrate.”
Smith’s journey to a state championship and elite status as The Examiner’s top female performer began six years ago.
“My sister Caitlyn ran track in middle school, and I was in the seventh grade and I wanted to run track,” Smith said. “She ran hurdles, and I told her that I was going to run the hurdles and be better than her.
“Caitlyn is a great dancer, and she concentrated on dancing in high school. I didn’t really know if I was going to be a great hurdler and be better than Caitlyn, but I worked and worked. I guess I did pretty well.”
Although she makes the demanding sport look easy, Smith says that is far from the truth.
“I have permanent bruises on my left knee, and I have this permanent scar,” she said, pointing to a place on her left leg, just above her ankle, that required seven stitches. “And in seventh grade I wiped out – wiped out big time.
“But I got up and ran them again.”
And the rest, as they say, is history.
“She is just an amazing young lady,” Brill said. “I had her in a weight class, and she worked harder than everyone else. She has made herself into a great hurdler.”
She is also a gracious winner.
“I never, ever thought about winning an award like the best girl track athlete,” Smith said. “There are so many great runners and great athletes. To win this award, after winning state, is just the perfect way to end my high school carer.
“It just makes me feel good, and proud – very, very proud.”
