CAZENOVIA — Last month, recent Cazenovia High School graduate Jared Smith (Class of 2021) competed in the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation’s 30th Outdoor Nationals.
Presented by Nike, the high school national championship drew America’s top track & field talent to the famed Hayward Field at the University of Oregon from June 30-July 3.
On the final day of the competition, Smith placed 11th out of 45 in the Boys 2,000 Meter Steeplechase Championship with a time of six minutes, 15.89 seconds.
“We are very proud of Jared for setting lofty goals and chasing his dreams in the sports of track & field and cross country,” said Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) Athletic Administrator Mike Byrnes. “Jared is a prime example of how hard work and dedication can result in accomplishing one’s goals. Jared’s influence on younger athletes will hopefully last for years to come within the school programs as so many younger athletes now look up to him as a role model and example. Jared’s desire to compete with the best of the best from around the country is admirable and inspiring.”
Smith described his experience at nationals as exciting, humbling, and breathtaking. He also recalled that all of the athletes were doing their best to keep their nerves in check.
“I was at the pack for a large portion of the race, but near the end I made one final hard push and managed to pass five people in the final 200 meters to secure my 11th spot in the entire country,” Smith said. “It was truly the perfect ending to a comeback season. Back in the winter, I didn’t even think I was going to be able to run for months with a serious knee injury, but somehow through the help of my family, friends, coaches, and physical therapists, we all got the job done. It truly [reinforces] the belief that anything is possible.”
According to Smith’s mother, Julia, who watched a live-stream of the championship with her family, the COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on Smith’s junior and senior year track seasons.
“He rigorously trained, on his own through sun, rain and snow,” Julia said. “Due to the abbreviated season and the cancellation of state championship competition, he was racing downstate and at other districts in order to get speed rated and more opportunities to gauge his progression in training. It’s a science to him. His determination has no limits. We are most proud of how hard he has worked for his team over the years at Cazenovia. He was awarded Cazenovia’s Most Outstanding Athlete Award this year and he truly deserves it having been the most decorated Caz Athlete in the school’s history.”
This past spring, Smith helped the Cazenovia Boys Varsity Track & Field team to complete an undefeated season and secure a sectional title. The Lakers were named New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section III Class B-2 Champions on June 8 in Holland Patent.
“Jared was an integral part of our program, scoring many team points in both dual and championship meets and helping Cazenovia secure three consecutive sectional titles,” said Outdoor Track & Field Head Coach Mark Evans. “ . . . Jared was a role model for younger track athletes, often offering training advice to other middle and long distance runners on the team. I am so appreciative of all that [he] has done for [the] program.”
According to Evans, Smith is the individual Cazenovia outdoor record holder in the 1,600-meter, 3,000-meter steeplechase, and 3,200-meter. He was also a member of the Cazenovia 4×800 meter relay record-setting team.
Smith beat CCSD’s record for the 3,200-meter on May 12, 2021 on the Buckley-Volo Field with a time of nine minutes, 47.4 seconds.
“Honestly, I was so happy to have been able to do it in front of the home crowd [and] at the track where I had run countless laps,” Smith said. “It was tough having no competition, but I was blessed to have had coaches who taught me how to run MY race and play into my strengths as an endurance athlete with or without competition . . . People were telling me that I needed competition to break records, so the next week I had to quiet the doubters and do it myself without any help. I was grateful to have had a crowd cheering me on and I attribute that accomplishment to the hard work of my coaches and family . . . It’s not my record. It’s the school’s record.”
Several individuals, including Evans, Indoor Track & Field Head Coach Greg Wakeman, Cross Country Head Coach Jason Hyatt, and Assistant Coach Katie Cannizzaro, coached Smith throughout his senior year.
“Seeing [Jared] grow over the years into the young man he is today has been such a privilege,” said Hyatt. “A lot of people might only get to hear about his athletic accomplishments, but it is his character that I believe is what is most remarkable about him.”
Hyatt described Smith as genuine, caring, loyal, dedicated, passionate and driven.
“Of course, these characteristics have helped him accomplish much athletically, but it is his potential to empower others and share his gifts with those around him that I can’t wait to see and hear about,” Hyatt added. “ . . . I believe his journey has really just begun to get exciting. We are definitely going to miss him on our teams. As a coach, I’ll miss his leadership and the example of what pure hard work and commitment can do for a runner. But, he has sent me a detailed Google Doc with data he’s collected over the years for pace strategy on our cross county course. So, I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.”
Smith started running during his freshman year, prior to which he participated in wrestling and soccer.
He joined the track team at the urging of his friends Hunter McCullough, Dalton Sevier, and Tim Gibbons.
Smith recalled that his first cross country practice, which involved a warm-up jog from the high school to Lakeside Park, a stretch, and two perimeters of Lakeside Park, made him “want to die.”
“I literally took five walking breaks each lasting about a minute,” he said. “I had no idea why anybody would want to do this crazy sport; heck, some people don’t even call running a sport — it is by the way. The second day of practice was on my birthday and [Coach] Hyatt took us out on a six mile run, which made me want to die once again at mile four or so, but for some reason, the last two miles just made me want to finish fast, and so despite the pain, I ran pretty fast and caught up to the seniors in the front. When the run was over I was basically sprinting and I had no idea where the spare energy came from. When the run ended, I felt a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, as if I was meant to one day be the best. My first ever 5K race, I ran a 25:23 and couldn’t even stand when It was done. The rest is history. It does not matter how slow or low you start, you can always reach the top with hard work. Always.”
Smith thanked the following individuals for their support throughout his high school running career: Evans, Wakeman, Hyatt, Cannizzaro, McCullough, Sevier, Gibbons, Dan Smith, Julia Smith, Paula Schultz, Lukas Smith, Dan Kingsley, Andrew Kent, Slater DeLeon, Mark Tugaw, Daniel Buddy, Mike Buckley, Angi Buckley, Jakob Buckley, Jacob Ives, James McPherson, Noah DeRochie, Father Kevin (St James), Maggie Dougherty, Maureen Carroll, Connor Carroll, Kirsten Reichert, Aidan Coffey, Neal Coffey, Killian Blouin, Jacob Gamage, Emily Gamage, Jonah Gamage, Arianna Gamage, Kurt Wheeler, Patrick Dermody, Matt Persampieri, Caleb Bender, Erich Omans, Quinn Smith, Dylan Albicker, Brian Elithorpe, Barbra Chase, Dan Smith Jr, Molly Hart, Michael McMahon, Steve Horton, Derek Hutchings, Cassidy Gilmore, Michael Senehi, Jenna Steinberg, Dylan Shepard, Alex Lansing, Bonnie Pittman, Cooper Groat, Finn Walsh, Kiara Dolan, Aeden Berson, Dan Pawlewicz, Jake Tobin, Tony Coppers, Greg Oldfield, Will Austin, Eric Groff, Andrew Lee, and the man at Subway who wished him luck before he broke the school record.
In the fall, Smith plans to run at SUNY Brockport under the leadership of Head Coach John Davis.
“We hope to make some serious noise in the fall,” Smith said. “Stay tuned.”
To view the official results of the Boys 2,000 Meter Steeplechase Championship, visit cazenoviacsd.com.
