Chris Smith article (Cincinnati) 2005

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Over the Top
Senior pole vaulter Smith among leaders of C-USA and nation
Matt Knapke


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Share this article Published: Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Updated: Sunday, October 5, 2008


Courtesy of UC Sports Information

Senior Chris Smith runs a race during a meet at Gettler Stadium. Smith has made his name known nationally for the pole vault.
Chris Smith has vaulted his way to the top ranks of track and field athletes around the nation. The University of Cincinnati senior track star, who specializes in the pole vault, has ascended to become one of Conference USA's best athletes.

Smith was named C-USA Athlete of the Week on April 12 after capturing the pole vault in the Miami Invitational with a 17'6-1/2" vault.

"It was a bit of a surprise," Smith says of the C-USA award."It was an honor to be recognized for the jump."

The meet-winning jump put him right at the top of the C-USA performance list this season, while also qualifying him for the NCAA Mid-East Regional competition on May 27-28 in Bloomington, Ind.

Smith is currently ranked as the sixth best pole-vaulter in the nation and is currently three inches short of the school record in the event.

Oddly enough Smith didn't start out as a pole-vaulter.

"Actually I was a wrestler in the seventh grade," Smith said."I was told that wrestlers make the best pole-vaulters."

In fact, Smith was cut from his seventh grade track team. Smith's coach, though, was supportive of him and encouraged him to keep at it

Smith would later make the squad and participate in the hurdles, sprints and long jump before getting into pole vaulting.

He credits his head coach at Princeton High School, Jim Crumpler, for encouraging him to be a pole-vaulter.

"Without his guidance I wouldn't be where I am today," Smith said.

In high school he finished fourth at the U.S. Track & Field Nationals and was an All-American in addition to holding the city pole vault record at one time.

Certainly reaching high to achieve goals has carried over for Smith into his college career in track and field. In addition to the season-high vault at the Miami Invitational, Smith has qualified for the NCAA Mid-East Regional Championships three out of his four years and has also qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional last year.

Smith said his favorite accomplishments as a pole-vaulter came when he was the C-USA champion as a freshman in 2002 with a vault of 15'11" and winning the Stevens award honor.

Most recently, he finished in third place at the All-Ohio Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend. Smith said that the track team doesn't have many star athletes, but the team wins with a lot of depth.

The training regimen that Smith goes through every week is what keeps him in prime condition.

"Personally, I practice vaults once or twice a week," Smith said. "I do a lot of running and I have a lifting schedule during the season."

He practices three hours a day, five days a week. The schedule breaks down into vaulting one day, lifting the next day and running a day later.

In terms of being flexible enough to be a pole-vaulter, Smith explained that it is a lot like gymnastics.

"We do a lot of gymnastic work and mainly the non-vault work is done on the rings," Smith said. "A lot of vaulters are gymnasts."

Smith said that his performance at the meets, matches positively with how he does in practice. He has now trained himself to show his best when the meets do come. "I peak at the meets as opposed to practice," Smith said.

Like other athletes of his generation, Smith drew inspiration from Michael Jordan when he was coming up as a track athlete. "I just try to model his perseverance and consistency," Smith said.

Smith's goals are high for the remainder of the season.

He is aiming to break the state record vault of 18'2" as well as becoming UC's first ever All-American in the pole vault. His highest vault ever was 18' in practice.

For the long-term future Smith is hoping to compete for a long time to come.

"Athletically, I would like to continue competitively for the next three years and try out for the Olympics in 2008," Smith said.

If that doesn't pan out, Smith will be student teaching next year so that he can eventually become a teacher.

"I would want to teach and coach at the college level," Smith said. "I have always wanted to be a teacher and show my talents."