School: Norristown
Track
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite team: Eagles
Favorite memory competing in sports: “Sophomore year running on the varsity squad at the Penn Relays and making it back to the tri-states, running with all seniors.”
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: “In field hockey when it was a muddy game, I fell in the mud and got it all over me and into my underwear.”
Music on iPod: Hip-hop, rap, R&B, underground mix tapes
Future plans: Attend West Chester and become an accountant
Words to live by: “Go hard or go home.”
One goal before turning 30: “Become rich and travel the world.”
One thing people don’t know about me: “I love to laugh, and I’m really silly.”
By all outward appearances, the tri-meet -- a three-way battle between the Norristown, Springfield and Upper Dublin girls' track and field teams -- was just a typical early season meet.
It did, however, provide for one extraordinary effort from one team captain.
Norristown senior Nikole Smith found herself running in four consecutive races during the meet ... not the ideal situation. But an ideal way to be a leader on a team loaded with young athletes.
"I remember that meet," Smith says. "I kind of panicked when I found out. It was early in the season. I knew I could do it, but I didn’t think my body was ready for that. I got to my second race and I’m just thinking, 'two more to go.'
"I did what I had to do to finish it. And I got to my third race and I had another 400 to go … the hardest race ever. And I ran hard ... I didn’t think I was going to be able to but I did, (but) because I’m the captain, I have to set an example.
“The (younger team members) knew how tired I was. But hopefully they realized when they are put in situations like that, they shouldn’t complain because you have to take one for the team in order to come out with the win."
That sums up Smith's attitude -- if she's going to be out there, she's going to give nothing less than 100 percent and accept nothing less than her best effort. It's an outlook she takes with her off the track and into the classroom, her job and every other aspect of her life.
And it's part of what makes her an ideal leader on a team packed with potential.
"I told her after (the tri-meet), 'I appreciate that, that’s what I needed,'" said Norristown girls track coach Jennifer Coursey. "I needed a girl who would step up and do what she had to do for the team. She was obviously hurting at the end of the meet but she did what she had to do for the team."
"She has a lot of responsibility to the youngsters, teaching them and showing them the proper way of doing things when it comes to practice or meet situations," said Norristown track coach Miles Burrell. "She's a leader by example. She’ll tell the other girls, 'let’s go get this done,' and they’ll follow and start performing right behind her."
They perform pretty well in front of her, as well. Smith ran on the 4x100, sprint medley and 4x200 relays that took first place at the recent American Conference Relays.
And she anchored the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that put on a couple of remarkable performances at 116th Penn Relays on April 22 to 24. The 4x100 squad won its heat in a time of 49.40 seconds, and 4x400 girls placed third in the High School Girls Suburban National race with a time of 4:03.05.
"It was the best ever," Smith says of the event. "It was my last Penn Relays ever. I was so proud of my relay. Coming in first place is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
And as busy -- and successful -- as she was, she also found time to watch one other sprinter who lit up the Franklin Field track.
"I made sure I didn’t leave the stands while Usain Bolt was running," she said. "I saw him run in person. I was so excited."
Of course, even the speediest of runners begin with their first step. For Smith, that step was arriving as a freshman on a senior-laden Norristown team. She learned from the then-seniors and over the years did everything that was asked of her -- worked hard, refined her technique, focused -- as she developed into the leader she has become.
Smith -- who also plays field hockey for Norristown -- credits the captains and experienced athletes from her freshman year for helping her adjust and thrive at the varsity level on the track. And she's more than happy to pass what she's learned on to those who now look up to her.
"The captains my freshman year did a really good job," she said. "I was determined to be the best when I was a freshman, now I can see these kids doing the same -- it’s a cycle. I want to do what my captains did for me and prove the younger kids can actually deliver. They have a lot of talent, every last one of them. They’re young, but they work hard."
Clearly, they're following their captain's lead. Because Smith doesn't leave the hard work and dedication behind when she leaves the track. She also brings it into the classroom.
Smith is carrying a 4.6 GPA and is ranked third in her senior class. She was accepted to all eight colleges to which she applied, eventually deciding on West Chester University, where she has earned a full academic scholarship and plans to study accounting.
And when Smith is not in school, practicing or running in meets, or doing homework, she also holds a job at Walmart where she worked an average of three or four nights a week.
Certainly, it can be overwhelming. And it's resulted in more than one night with little sleep. But for Smith, it's all worth it. And it's all done with one person in mind.
"I really do it for my dad -- he's the reason," she said. "He's a single parent. He raised me to never quit. Sometimes I am drained and I do too much, I can’t keep up with everything, but I take the time and know I can do it and hopefully all my hard work will pay off one day and I’ll be able to support my dad in the way that he’s supported me.
“I work because I have to - my dad is unemployed right now. I know I’m about to go off to college and maybe next year I’ll slow down with the stuff that I do, but this has to be done. Everything has a reason and a motive, and it keeps me going."
In her rare moments of downtime, Smith enjoys shopping, texting and hanging out with friends. Though she admits that finding downtime can be rare.
Almost as rare as it is to find an athlete like Smith.
"She has to go from school to practice to work and then come home and do homework, then get up the next day and do it all over again," Burrell said. "And still she's an A student, she maintains that high level of education. And then to have time to come out and work hard and still be that team leader on the track ...
"She's one of those athletes every coach wants to have on their team. It’s her turn to shine."
