With support from the athletic department, coaches and family, junior Destini Smith continues to set new school and personal records as well as break existing ones in track and field.
According to Smith, she has been running track ever since she was in elementary school.
“I was at recess and I liked to run so I was like, ‘Might as well try track,’ and then I stuck with it,” Smith said. “I was in Florida for first grade and there was a club that we did for our school and we just all ran.”
Since then, Smith has been running track for Souderton and now also participates in high, long and triple jump events.
Smith is ranked first in the state for triple jump and fourth in the nation.
“She’s broken four school records so far individually,” girls track and field head coach Anthony Pace said. “She’s also broken other school records as part of a relay team.”
According to Smith, triple jump wasn’t originally on her radar for her track and field career at Souderton.
“I started high jump in ninth grade while I was in Georgia and then I just started triple jump and long jump my indoor season of this year,” Smith said.
On May 3, Smith broke the 44-year-old record set by Colleen Nuschke Wurz in 1980, setting a new school and personal record (PR) of 41 ’11’’ and officially ranking first in the state.
According to athletic director Dennis Stanton, Smith is not only physically invested in the sport but also emotionally, working during the “unseen hours” to better herself and achieve her goals.
“As far as hard-working, and as far as dedicated, she’s there every single day and gives 100%,” Stanton said.
Jumping coach Richard Hess shares a similar outlook.
According to Hess, Smith has shown her determination not only by showing up to every practice but also by the work she has put into track outside of school.
“The end of last year, she decided she was going to dedicate herself to track,” Hess said. “She was at this track in the summertime when everyone was on vacation probably three times a week since June.”
On April 30, Smith broke her personal record in her high jump event at Central Bucks West High School, jumping a height of 5’5”.
“I feel like I’ve been working so hard and just to have that much growth is really crazy,” Smith said. “I feel as hard as I have been working, it was bound to happen.”
According to Stanton, as Smith continues to put forth the effort required to perform at her level, her work ethic and determination is what allows for her to do so.
“I think [the] accomplishments and records are a byproduct of all the work, and if she continues to put the work in and focuses on her daily approach to her craft, her records, her accomplishments are going to take care of themselves,” Stanton said.
Hess shared similar feelings to Stanton.
“If she keeps healthy and stays safe, she will be the most decorated athlete Souderton High School has ever seen for track and field,” Hess said.
During the Suburban One League Championship at Central Bucks East High School on May 10-11, Smith took home four first-place finishes.
According to Smith, her motivation comes from the competition she faces at meets, as well as encouragement from family members and coaches.
“There’s always competition that can be close to you and you’ll just want to push yourself even further,” Smith said.
According to Pace, Smith not only motivates herself but others.
She “glues” the team together and inspires the team to do great.
“She’s always glued and locked in part of the team,” Pace said. “She had made it to the finals at Penn Relays and during that time, our Unified Track team was running.Her timer is going down, she’s got about a minute and 30 [seconds] to do her job. She’s probably at her biggest moment of her career and she’s still cheering on her teammates from Unified.”