Post by Todd B on Oct 7, 2008 14:47:45 GMT -5
Article published at MonroeNews.com on Oct 5, 2008
Ida's Smith changes on the run
Nick Smith started his race in last place in Saturday's St. Mary Catholic Central Cross Country Invitational.
That's because he still was wearing his sweatshirt and sweats when the gun went off to start the race.
The Ida junior gradually worked his way up to the top and repeated as champion of the nine-team meet at Monroe County Community College.
Dundee freshman sensation Brittany Slinker won the girls race and came within four seconds of breaking the school record.
SMCC continued its mastery of its home course by winning the boys team event, while Grosse Ile took girls honors.
Smith didn't start running cross country until last year but won the Huron Invitational in his second career meet. He qualified for state but broke his kneecap at the Regional meet which delayed the start of his wrestling season. That didn't prevent him from winning a state title on the mat.
He said the knee still bothers him. That's why he still had all his heavy clothes on when the race started at 9 a.m.
"He just wasn't paying attention," his mother, Peggy, said. "His dad tells him to keep his stuff on until he goes off. He was taking his dad's advice a little too long today."
Nick said it took him about 10 seconds to get out of his heavy clothes after everyone else took off.
"He (the starter) just kind of put his hands up and blew the gun. I wasn't really ready," he said. "I just kind of ran my pace after that. I ran quite a bit over the summer (about 400 miles). I didn't run at all last summer."
Smith, who won the race in 16:55, said he got off to a slow start this season because he hadn't yet learned to pace himself.
Ida's Smith changes on the run
Nick Smith started his race in last place in Saturday's St. Mary Catholic Central Cross Country Invitational.
That's because he still was wearing his sweatshirt and sweats when the gun went off to start the race.
The Ida junior gradually worked his way up to the top and repeated as champion of the nine-team meet at Monroe County Community College.
Dundee freshman sensation Brittany Slinker won the girls race and came within four seconds of breaking the school record.
SMCC continued its mastery of its home course by winning the boys team event, while Grosse Ile took girls honors.
Smith didn't start running cross country until last year but won the Huron Invitational in his second career meet. He qualified for state but broke his kneecap at the Regional meet which delayed the start of his wrestling season. That didn't prevent him from winning a state title on the mat.
He said the knee still bothers him. That's why he still had all his heavy clothes on when the race started at 9 a.m.
"He just wasn't paying attention," his mother, Peggy, said. "His dad tells him to keep his stuff on until he goes off. He was taking his dad's advice a little too long today."
Nick said it took him about 10 seconds to get out of his heavy clothes after everyone else took off.
"He (the starter) just kind of put his hands up and blew the gun. I wasn't really ready," he said. "I just kind of ran my pace after that. I ran quite a bit over the summer (about 400 miles). I didn't run at all last summer."
Smith, who won the race in 16:55, said he got off to a slow start this season because he hadn't yet learned to pace himself.