Daniel Smith, 10, of Gorham took first place in the 1500 meter Race Walk at the USA Track & Field Hershey National Junior Olympic Championship Meet in Sacramento, California on July 22, Smith won the 9/10 age group with a time of 10:37:08. It’s Smith’s second year competing at the national level; he took second in the same event in 2018.
“I started doing summer track through Gorham Rec when I was five. I tried shot put but got tired with it so I looked for another event to do. I have had great race walking coaches and teammates to look up to. The technique can be tricky to learn but I have been doing it so long that I’m addicted,” Smith said.
Stef Meacham (GHS ’20), a standout race walker herself, was his coach this summer. “As you know, Daniel is only ten years old, but I was so impressed with his work ethic, determination, and racing smarts throughout the whole season. He showed up to every practice and every meet ready to give his best effort and work hard, which allowed him to experience great success!” she shared.
Photo credit Kate McDonaldDaniel Smith’s focus and form earned him the top spot at Nationals in California earlier this summer.
Meacham shared that in race walking, it is difficult for some athletes to keep proper form. It is especially hard for the younger kids as they tend to run instead of race walk. At the bigger meets, kids can get disqualified if their form is not correct, but she said that does not usually happen until the state meet.
“There were times when kids would chase after Daniel with the incorrect form, but Daniel never once broke his form to try to cross the finish line ahead of them. He knew that to win he would have to cross the finish legally,” she said. And Smith would always finish first because of that knowledge.
Smith was really happy he was able to compete at Nationals as he did not feel well. It was very hot in Sacramento, yet despite the heat, he and his teammate Rowan McDonald won their races. “It is fun to race against people from all over the country,” he said.
Daniel is on the USATF-Maine Summer Youth Track Series for Gorham Recreation Track & Field and attends NYA. Prior to competing at Nationals, he took first place in the 800 m race at the Maine Youth State Meet held in Brewer on August 10.