Jennifer Smith Ferris Year: Senior Sport: Track Position: Distances

By Jennifer Smith’s standards, her times in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters were not remarkable.

The Ferris senior won the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 54.9 seconds and the 3,200 in 10:39.5 at the District 8-AAA track meet last week. Neither time was a personal record nor a district record.

They were, however, amazingly close to district marks, 3.5 seconds short in the 1,600 and 2.1 in the 3,200. Even more surprising is that Smith made those runs going solo, her lead never challenged after 200 meters.

“It’s always nice to PR … I just wanted to run good times,” Smith said. “I did OK, I guess. I’m kind of disappointed in the 1,600 but I have a couple of weeks. It’s hard sometimes when you’re in your race and you don’t get in your zone. You get caught up in your times … you think too much instead of just doing it. It’s kind of hard to explain.

“I still think that a PR is good. A district record is good if it’s on the way to a PR.”

Smith’s state-leading 3,200 time of 10:40.3 is a PR, but her 4:56.8 in the 1,600 doesn’t match last year’s best. She will not blame the lack of competition pushing her because she is focused on what she wants to do.

“I’ve been looking at what’s leading the nation and I kind of wanted to be at the top of the nation,” she said. “Under 10:30 and under 4:50 would put me in the top five. I know I’m capable, I just want to do it.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo