A stroll along the U.S. Olympic Trials track in Eugene, Oregon brought the two side by side, although neither was aware of it. As Richardson passed by and later surged ahead of Smith, everything clicked for the latter. Look how close I am to some of the world’s top sprinters. Smith grapples daily with the […]
A stroll along the U.S. Olympic Trials track in Eugene, Oregon brought the two side by side, although neither was aware of it. As Richardson passed by and later surged ahead of Smith, everything clicked for the latter.
Look how close I am to some of the world’s top sprinters.
Smith grapples daily with the balance of humility and self-assurance. She has never questioned her skills, but being overly confident is not in her nature. Even when she established the 200-meter program record last year with a time of 22.55, her joy was quietly internal. There was no grand celebration, merely a new milestone to surpass.
“She remains so composed every day, even when she broke the record last year, she simply glanced at her time and walked away,” said fellow sprinter Aniya Matthews. “Even when she mentioned qualifying for the Olympic Trials, it felt just like any other day for her. She constantly strives for improvement.”
The camera rolls of the two teammates tell the tale.
Videos, videos, and even more videos. Their storage is filled with clips of each other running. Coach Andrew Kaschak does a vertical leap with the sprinting group and has a wealth of footage to review, but they lean on each other for support as well.
Smith will take a break for one run while Matthews goes. Then they switch roles. Between each attempt, they analyze the videos to spot minor flaws — hand positioning, starts, and full arm extension are common issues. Achieving program-record times allows minimal room for mistakes and highlights the precise adjustments necessary to reach new heights.
“It truly transforms the drills you perform and the aspects you tackle in training,” Smith explained. “Once you begin attempting to shave off these times, it really becomes about the nuances because you’ve already tackled the more significant elements. I’ve never competed in a race without reflecting on things I could have improved; I’m always focused on those finer points.”
