By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
It's been a tough senior year for Shawnee Heights track star Jeremiah Smith, who has yet to compete this spring.
Shawnee Heights senior track star Jeremiah Smith (right) jokes with teammates during last Friday's Joe Schrag City Championship at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the fastest 100-meter dash runner in Kansas high school history is getting closer and closer to what he is confident will be a triumphant return.
"It is pretty hard,'' Smith said. "It's been depressing all year but, you know, it's part of the journey so you just deal with it.''
The Nebraska signee won Class 5A titles in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 110 high hurdles as a sophomore in 2021 and recorded a Kansas all-time best of 10.27 seconds early in the 2022 season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year's Joe Schrag City Championship.
Smith suffered another leg injury prior to the start of the 2023 season, which has delayed his return.
"I hurt it in the offseason actually and I've just been trying to nurse it back this whole time,'' Smith said.
While Smith is obviously eager to return to action, he also wants to be smart and not take any chances.
"Last year I ran on an injury and I just made it worse, so this year I'm not going to do that,'' Smith said.
Smith was entered in last Friday's city meet in the 400 dash but he and his coaches made a late decision to scratch out of the event.
"I'm feeling better now but city you don't really gain anything out of it, so no point (in rushing it),'' Smith said.
Shawnee Heights coach John Oshel agreed with Smith that it's important to proceed with caution.
"He's doing everything he can while he's treating it,'' Oshel said. "He wants to compete this year and it just hasn't worked out yet for him, but I think we're really, really close.
"We just always want the best for him.''
Smith goal now is to return for Friday's United Kansas Conference meet at De Soto, which will be followed by 5A regional competition at Olathe on May 18 and the state meet on May 26-27.
"I'll definitely run at the end of the year, it's just a matter of time,'' Smith said. "I'm just taking it week by week.''
