The Girls Indoor Track and Field team at Darien High School has high expectations for this season. They have been training hard, running laps around the track in the rain or shine, jumping hurdles, and throwing shot put. And Eleanor Smith, one of the four senior captains of the team, is ready to make her mark before she graduates.
Smith can run, but it is in her field events where she truly excels. She joined the DHS Track and Field team freshman year at the urging of her friend, and now fellow captain, Lizzie Heaney. Although she was hesitant to join at first, after her first practice she never looked back. “I’m actually really glad she did [that Lizzie convinced her to join] because of all the opportunities it has brought me,” she said.
Smith competes in three events in the winter-- pole vault, long jump, and high jump, and adds another to her repertoire in the spring--triple jump. Since she competes in the maximum events allowed in each season, they often overlap, so she gets her fair share of running as she runs from one event to the next. Each event is very different, so she does not majorly favor one over the other. “I don't really have a favorite, I guess it changes on a day to day basis. Vaulting takes up all my time and I really only train for that, so the fact that I have stuck with it and dedicate so much time to it probably shows that is is my favorite,” Smith said.
Training for these events takes time; Smith practices everyday after school until 5 pm. She starts off by running with the sprinters, then goes to the gym and the weight room. Pole vaulting practice is especially rigorous: “We lift weights like the bench press and pull down, and do core, pushups, squats, pull ups, etc. We practice gymnastics for balance and forming muscle memory that is used during the vault by doing backward rolls overs, handstands, and doing practice turns on a rope,” Smith said.
Last winter was one of Smith’s best seasons on the team. Despite facing several injuries, she qualified for States and attained personal records in each of her events, clearing 4’8 in high jump, 14’9 in long jump, and 8’6 in pole vaulting. However, she is ready to improve even more this year. “My hope is for the team to win FCIACS, States, and State Opens. And individually I would like to PR [personal record] in all my events or at least match my PRs,” she said. With her versatile athletic ability, leadership as a captain, and drive to succeed, Smith is an essential member of the team.
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