The Observer, September 29, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 5
Smith races ahead on the field, in the classroom
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Losing in competitive team sports is tough to handle. Losing in individual sports is even worse, because, in the simplest of terms, your opponent is better than you. That being said, it must be especially hard for cross country runners at other schools to lose to Case sophomore Dominic Smith, seeing as he has to be off the streets of Cleveland at 11 p.m. due to curfew. Smith happens to be one of the best runners at Case, and he also happens to be only 17 years old (barely, his birthday was this past Tuesday).
Smith, who was unaware of the curfew, and admits now that he's been breaking the law, came to Case when he was only 15 and is anything but an ordinary student. As one of the strengths for the men's cross country team, where he has finished second on the team in both of his races, he has become a leader even though he is the youngest athlete at Case. This upcoming weekend, well-rested from not running at the Wooster Invitational, Smith hopes to continue to improve (one of his goals for each meet) in one of the team's largest events – the Loyola of Chicago Invitational. The team will be counting on his long stride as they try to improve on their strong start to the 2006 season that has seen two second place finishes.
"I never thought that skipping seventh and eighth grade would bring me so much fame. First the athletic department, then The Observer, and then the Cleveland Plain Dealer," Smith said when asked about what it is like being so young at college.
Dominic has no regrets about his decision to advance through education early – it was a decision shared by himself and his parents. At his accelerated high school in Cincinnati, most of the students end up skipping grades to challenge themselves academically.
"If you are supposed to be in seventh grade, but doing the math and science of 10th grade, the students end up just skipping grades to be challenged and enter in college and their careers early," Smith said about his school back home.
Smith does not feel that he missed out on anything in those two grades because so many of his peers were doing the same thing, and because it only accelerated the rest of his life.
Even though he is going to receive a bachelors degree in economics at the same age most students graduate from high school, he is unsure of his future.
"I will probably end up staying in school for a master's degree, but I don't know," he said. "Who knows, maybe even a PhD. I have more time than most people to decide on my future, so I'm not worried about it. Eventually I want to teach and coach, but I have to work before that."
His passion for cross country and coaching has been influenced by his coaches and teammates, who he admits have been great friends, role models, and supporters. His fellow Spartan runners, although they joke a great deal about his age, understand his maturity both physically and mentally.
"Many people are just going through their growth spurt at this age in their lives. I was lucky enough to hit that a couple years ago," Smith said.
Not only is Smith lucky, but so is the rest of the cross country program at Case, who get to run with a great athlete, a good friend, and someone who can always take and give a good joke.
