THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260661
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Tony Smith had just finished running the 3,200 meters, of all things, when a stranger called to him from the stands two years ago at Hampton's Darling Stadium.
The man, who knew Smith also competed in the long jump - an unusual event for a distance or middle-distance runner - asked him if he had ever thought about trying the hurdles.
Smith had not. But he took the man's advice to heart. His distance career was over, and a hurdler was born.
``I still don't know who that man was,'' said Smith, now a senior at Western Branch. ``I wish I could shake his hand.''
He was a very perceptive fellow, it turns out. Smith was no great shakes as a middle-distance guy - ``I got lapped in the 800,'' he jokes - but he's a potential state champion as a 300-meter hurdler.
Last Saturday, in the Southeastern District meet, Smith, 18, clocked a 37.1 in a 300-meter hurdle trial. It was the fourth-fastest time in the nation by a high schooler this year. He won the 300-meter final in 37.32, a meet record.
Smith's time was faster than the winning time at last year's state meet - 37.42 by Salem's Charles Reid. He said he's looking to dip below 37 seconds Saturday at the Eastern Region Meet at Todd Stadium in Newport News.
``My body felt good and everything,'' at the district meet, Smith said. ``I wanted to hit at least thirty-sixes. I want to do at least 35-something,'' while still in high school.
Not bad for a guy who's best time in the 800 meters was a rather ordinary 2:14.
Smith clocked that as a 121-pound sophomore at Deep Creek. He had shown some promise indoors as a 600-meter runner and Hornets coach Richard Cox had him running the 800 and 1,600 outdoors. He even tried the 3,200 that one fateful day during an invitational meet at Darling Stadium.
When Smith met his mystery man, it was too late in the season for him to start running the hurdles at Deep Creek. But he transferred to Western Branch the next year and began training for the hurdles.
``I just got it in my mind that I was going to train to get powerful to run the hurdles,'' he said.
Smith was fourth in the region at the 300 hurdles last year. He took most of the summer and fall off from hurdling and concentrated on building his strength and endurance. He now carries 148 pounds on his 5-foot-10 frame.
``He's a hard worker,'' Western Branch coach Wade Williams said. ``He would have been a good miler or half-miler because he would have worked to be good. He has so much heart.''
That was evident at a recent practice at Churchland High, when Smith and teammate Daniel Parker - who will be running the hurdles next year at VMI - squared off in a series of drills.
Parker, who's been just a step behind Smith all year, came charging after Smith time after time.
``Tear him up, Daniel,'' Williams yelled.
``He got you!'' Williams yelled to Smith, 15 seconds later.
``No, he didn't get me,'' Smith yelled back.
Smith and Parker were running the high hurdles, an event in which Smith has clocked a 13.8 - hand-held time.
``I'm trying to get my 110s as fast as my 300s,'' Smith says.
But for now it's the intermediates where Smith excels. He's a student of the event and has a well-thumbed book on the 400-meter hurdles - which is the distance run in college and in high school in most states.
``I've got to do something to get an edge,'' he said.
Smith's hoping he'll be running the 400-meter hurdles next year - on a track scholarship somewhere. He's awaiting the results of his second attempt at the SAT to see whether he'll qualify academically. He's had some contact from colleges, but no offers yet.
Smith will be running in front of college coaches Saturday at the Eastern Region meet and next weekend at the state meet.
``Maybe now somebody will pay attention to what he can do,'' Williams said. Sort of like a stranger did two years ago. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff
Tony Smith clocked a 37.1 in a 300-meter hurdle trial Saturday, the
fourth-fastest time in the nation by a high schooler this year.
by CNB