Smith Hopes to Use Talent for the Long Run in College

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(October 31, 2021 8:00 AM) Despite being just a teenager, Lumen Christi Catholic High School runner Faith Smith has learned to succeed with hard work and believing in doing whatever it takes to succeed. 

Learning to succeed using hard work and perseverance may come in handy.

The senior would like to run cross country and track and field in college and study in a pre-medicine program. 

Smith has been a two-time all-state runner for the Titans with a banner season in 2020. 

But just after the 2020 season, Smith began to feel a pain in her hip. She let it go for a couple of months before Coach Mike Woolsey encouraged her to get an MRI. 

“It was a tear in my labrum, hip bursitis, and other hip problems,” Smith said. “I am the only 17-year-old I know with hip problems.”

Smith missed her junior year in track and had surgery for the hip trouble in May. It was the second consecutive track seasons missed by Smith – 2020 due to COVID-19. 

“I spent a lot of time at the YMCA doing pool runs for 45 minutes,” Smith said. “It was harder mentally than physically (to come back to cross country).”

Case in point, Smith won every race last year prior to the state meet. This season, she was taking second or third at various invitationals and Interstate-8 Conference jamborees.

“I am learning to run just to enjoy running,” Smith said. 

Smith finished second to teammate Madison Osterberg at the MHSAA Division 3 regional on Friday at Ella Sharp Park. She ran the 5K course in 19 minutes, 11 seconds in muddy conditions. 

“I was really nervous (at the regional meet) because it was really muddy,” Smith said. “I just didn’t fall down.”

Smith believes the Titans can finish in the top three at the state meet and possibly won the Division 3 state title. 

“This is the best team I have been on since my freshman year,” Smith said.  

Smith hopes to run cross country and track and field in college. She is looking at Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, and considering other options. She would like to study pre-medicine or human biology. 

She shouldn’t have trouble with the academics as she is No. 1 in her class with a perfect 4.0 grade points average – 4.2 on a weighted scale. 

The senior believes that competing in cross country and track and field has helped her overcome some shyness.

“I am pretty much a quiet person so sports help me with leadership,” Smith said. “Sports brings different people from different groups together.

“You just have to make it work.”

So far, the Titans and Smith have made it work on the cross country paths across the state.