Sports

Conway, Smith set new standards

• Deerfield-Windsor’s John Smith and Kelly Conway both won state titles last season and hope to add more.

Derek Barichello

ALBANY — The Deerfield-Windsor superstar track & field tandem of John Smith and Kelly Conway might seem like quiet, reserved young adults.

But don't let that fool you.

There's a lot more to these two – and they let their talents on the track do all the talking.

Smith, a senior transfer from Lee County High School who also starred in football for the Knights this past season, has cleared a staggering pole vaulting height of 16 feet, 7 inches – a height he and DWS boys track & field coach Craig Rhodes says is the fifth-highest in the nation. In 2007, he won the GHSA Class AAAA state pole vaulting championship while with the Trojans, not to mention he's a back-to-back winner at the Florida State Relays and Bob Hayes Classic.

He's also is fresh off a GISA Region 3-AAA title in the 100 and 200 meter races.

"He raises the level," Rhodes said. "He's got that spirit in him and that's what the team is rallying around - his spirit."

Meanwhile, the sophmore Conway – reigning Herald Player of the Year in both girls cross-country and track & field – is also the two-time defending GISA AAA champion in the 1,600 meters, as well as the the defending champion in the 800 and 3,200.

Oh, and by the way, she also won back-to-back AAA cross-country titles as a freshman and sophomore, giving her a total six state championships in just two years.

And DWS girls coach Joe Bishop is the first to tell you, she's scary good.

"She's the greatest thing since sliced bread," Bishop said. "She's so competitive and has such a tremendous heart."

Smith and Conway's competition will get their own taste today when the Region 3-AAA champion DWS boys and girls teams take the track at the GISA Class AAA State Tournament at Hugh Mills Stadium.

Smith is a heavy favorite in the pole vault, and says he will try a jump of 17 feet in state. He has cleared the 17-0 mark only in practice, but executed 16-7 in a meet; that jump shattered the DWS and state record.

Conway, however, may have more trouble repeating. She is seeded fifth in the 800 and second in the 1,600 and 3,200, which oddly enough is a well-known position for the defending state champ.

"She's never gone to state as the fastest," Bishop said of Conway's seeding.

"She is the type of runner that needs a lot of competition to bring out the best in her. I know she'll be ready when the gun goes off."

Alike in more ways than one, Smith and Conway both got started in their respective events in similar fashion.

When Smith was a freshman at Lee County, he did not have track on the mind, but was convinced to try the sport by familiar company -DWS coach Rhodes.

"He's the one who got me into it," Smith said. "I hadn't ever done anything in track."

Utilizing his sprinter's speed as displayed with his region wins in the 100 and 200, Smith experienced some early success and took private lessons.

Under the tutelage of track & field guru Charlie Polhomus of Fitzgerald, Smith took it to new heights, highlighted by his GHSA Class AAAA state title – a title he won as a junior after not even placing the previous year as sophmore.

In similar fashion, Conway nonchalantly found long-distance running as a hidden talent.

Just trying to stay in shape between the basketball season, Conway found she enjoyed running so much, she quit the hoops team to focus on cross country and track.

"I started enjoying it too much," said Conway of running. "I've always been really competitive and I just like the determination you have to put yourself through to do well."

And it is Conway's desire to push her limits that has given her an advantage on the track.

"A lot of people look at her and must say, 'Wow, it comes easy to her,' " Bishop said. "That's not the case at all. She's one of the hardest working runners out there and as easy as it would be for her to just stop (when she's tired) - she always goes to that next level."

Along with Conway's desire, it is Smith's drive to go where nobody has gone before that has led to his success.

Smith, who eventually chose to transfer to DWS and reunite with Rhodes, is looking to forget a tough experience at Lee County - one he didn't want to talk about when asked - and earn a scholarship from a top-notch Division I track program.

"You don't see many high schoolers across the country doing what I'm doing," Smith said. "It's an adrenaline rush. I would just love to do this at the next level."

And taking it the next level is something these two quiet DWS stars have been doing all season.

"Just don't let (their reserved demanor) fool you," Rhodes said. "Because between the lines, they are two of the best."

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