New Faces: MSUB track and field freshman Josey Smiedala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, January 27, 2016 By: Rio Frame, MSUB Media Relations Intern New Faces: MSUB track and field freshman Josey Smiedala

Feature story on one of MSUB’s newest track stars, freshman Josey Smiedala, who is gearing up to make a name for herself this spring in her first season with the ‘Jackets.

Fourth in a series.

MSUB SPORTS – Three meets down and two to go in completing freshman Josie Smiedala’s debut indoor season as a Montana State University Billings women’s track runner.

When asked about her first collegiate meet, Smiedala seemed very humble about her 61 second time in her open 400, as well as in her 4x400 meter relay later in the meet. “We had our first meet at Black Hills,” said Smiedala. “That went okay, but I was definitely not fully prepared for it. I think I was just kind of nervous racing again.”

In her next two meets Smiedala showed up ready to race and improve her times. Her second indoor meet at Montana State University rounded out with a strong showing in her 400 meter dash on her distance medley relay team and a slightly faster time in her open 400 meter dash later in the day (1:00.92, fourth). The freshman runner was not done

there though. In her third meet of the season, Smiedala dominated her race, beating her opponent by an easy four seconds.

One could say that running is in her genes, as both Smiedala’s mother and father ran in their college years. Coming from a family filled with competitors, Smiedala has been involved in running since she was seven years old, along with her two sisters. Josie seems very fond and proud of her younger siblings, mentioning that one of her sisters had recently signed a letter of intent to compete for the University of Montana track team next year. This young athlete has not only competed in track for numerous years, but tried her hand at basketball, softball, gymnastics, soccer, and tennis, all in which her family supported her fully. After her dad’s diagnosis with cancer, Smiedala filled a more adult role and provided support by cooking, cleaning, and helping take care of her family until his health improved. She had to become more mature for her age, a trait that has stuck with Smiedala her entire life. “You just have to take one day at a time,” she said. “Everything happens for a reason. You need to have a positive outlook on everything.”

The beginning of Smiedala’s summer after her senior year didn’t involve flip flops and swimsuits, but rather flying to West Point Military Academy in New York only a couple of weeks after receiving surgery on her knee. She had been battling with this injury almost her entire senior track season at Helena High School, but one fatal hurdle sent Smiedala to the ground and to the hospital. Doctors informed her that surgery was a must if she planned on attending basic in the summer. “I was predicted to win the 300 hurdles at state, so it was the hardest thing in the world,” said Smiedala. But, Smiedala knew that after a year’s worth of writing essays and sitting through interviews to be accepted into West Point, she could not give up now.

However, she soon realized that maybe this was not her dream. “I don’t think my heart was really in it,” said Smiedala. “I was definitely doing it for other people besides myself. I was burnt out on it and running. That’s why I’m here now.”

Smiedala is no stranger to the hustle and bustle of Billings. “I guess I could kind of say I was raised here in a way, because we were up here basically every weekend,” she said.

Talking about Billings led Smiedala to recount her call from New York to head coach Dave Coppock informing him of her newfound interest in the school and the track program.

Coach Coppock and Smiedala knew about each other through Smiedala’s dad, who Coppock previously ran with in road races. “She seemed really nice, which didn’t surprise me at all, kind of knowing her family,” Coppock said. “I heard a lot of other people tell me that she was a really nice girl and works really hard.” Coppock continued to watch Smiedala as she progressed through high school. “I watched her results and knew that she was doing really well.”

Smiedala’s first semester at MSUB studying elementary education was full of trial and error, from learning how to deal with her new home, job, sport, social life, and class load. Her days included waking up to open the school’s Jackets & Co. Campus Store, where she would reside until class time, which turned into practice, dinner, and back to the store. “I would get back to my residence hall at like 9 o’clock and just want to go to sleep,” said Smiedala. “But I think I have more of a hold on it this semester just because I know what to expect.” Smiedala is working on getting her general credits done these first two semesters of her college career.

For a runner with personal records of 57 seconds in the 400 meter dash, 2:24 in the 800 meter dash, and 46.2 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles, Smiedala carries herself humbly. She even stated with a laugh, “I didn’t have very good form. I

was more the powerhouse of hurdles.” Smiedala always looks to compliment her teammates, and build them up before she celebrates her own accomplishments. When asked about her impact on the team, assistant coach Jonathan Woehl, who works primarily with Smiedala, stated, “It’s been really nice to have her as part of the team because every day she brings a nice, positive attitude. It’s contagious amongst her teammates.”

With the two biggest indoor meets of the season looming in the coming weeks, Smiedala is focused on performing well within her relay teams, as well as attaining a sub-60 mark in the 400m. “No matter who we have running the relay, the team has a lot of potential,” Smiedala said. “We just need to be motivated.”

While the freshman is less sure about her ability individually, both her father, who sent his encouragement in the form of the provisional national qualifying times in the 400m, and Coach Woehl are confident she has what it takes. “With the work ethic that she has, I can see her scoring at an all-conference level for us in both indoor and outdoor meets,” said Woehl.

“I’ve raced so many times, that it is second nature by now,” Smiedala commented. “I always do specific exercises, but I don’t do a lot of miles. I’m totally mental for my warmups. I sometimes try to imagine what I am going to do and my race strategy.” Her teammate and co-worker, Bailey Bomar stated, “She can go from being silly at work, to being serious as soon as she’s at a meet.” Smiedala can be seen encouraging her teammates before, during, and after their events all the way up to the intense 4x400 meter relay at the end of the meet. “She is always up for and wants to run the 4x400,” says Coppock. The freshman tries to remind her teammates that every race they run helps with their training for the rest of the season.

“Josie’s strongest asset as an athlete would be her desire to work up to her potential. She really wants to do well, and when you give her a workout, she’s all-in,” stated Coppock. Coppock plans on recruiting athletes to build the track program who have a lot of the same qualities that Smiedala displays. He expects that Smiedala will be one of the fastest, if not the fastest, woman 400 runners to come through the MSUB track program.

Both coaches and teammates find Smiedala’s addition to the women’s track team as very positive. Woehl said, “My job is going to be to hold her back, because she is going to want to do way more than she should. That’s a good thing.” His thoughts are probably accurate since Smiedala has stated, “I really think that practice is important to push yourself.” The young runner says that she will attempt to keep up with the men when they are practicing with one another.

“The way the track program is, you can be as good as you want to be,” said Smiedala. “I just like all the people here.

Practice is so fun and I used to be so stressed out, but I’m just enjoying it, and I think that’s the most important thing.”

Smiedala is back to running simply for herself and the pure love of it, as she starts her new journey as a Yellowjacket of MSUB following her philosophy of hard work, dedication, and a bubbly, infectious attitude.

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