Dos Pueblos senior captain Cole Smith brings much to the table for the Chargers’ cross country team this season, leading the way for a squad that has aspirations to make it all the way to the State Meet in November.
Smith is one of Dos Pueblos’ top performers at every event but also has taken on the important role of team leader at practice and in the classroom.
“For me, running is kind of a place to go. It’s not necessarily the experience of physically running, it’s kind of like, if you’re on a run you have time to think to yourself, you have time to work out your own problems. It’s really therapeutic,” Smith explained. “It’s been like that since freshman year and I started out as maybe not the best runner but I learned to love it.”
The senior captain is a four-year cross country runner in a program that held a national ranking for much of last season. The team is undefeated so far this season, including a victory at the first Channel League meet.
To compliment his regular training, Smith read Daniels Running Formula during the offseason.
“I feel like I’ve benefited more this season by being a more knowledgeable athlete.”
Knowledge is something important to this student-athlete, who is applying early to Stanford with the plan of earning a degree in civil engineering. While his college search is academically driven, Smith hopes to continue running beyond high school. After all, Smith would naturally gravitate towards runners to find new friends.
“My best friends were runners too and that wouldn’t have happened had I not joined cross country,” Smith said.
Smith and the Chargers are entering the meaty part of their schedule with the Mt. SAC Invitational, the Clovis Invitational and the Santa Barbara County Championships coming up this month before CIF competition in November.
“Cole provides excellent leadership, organization, and motivation to the entire team,” credited Chargers running coach Micks Purnell.
The High School Runner of the Month award recognizes local prep runners that exemplify the term ?Student-Athlete? by demonstrating leadership and excellence in high school athletics. ?Thanks to?Santa Barbara Running Company??for making this award possible and for supporting local athletes.
Find other Runners of the Month?HERE
