Published 2012-04-03T18:25:00Z”/>
Adam Levine
Whether by nature or nurture, sophomore decathlete J. Patrick Smith was destined to be a track and field athlete.
His grandfather was a track star 60 years ago, and his father after that. Track and field runs in Smith’s blood, but his passion came after a sidelining shoulder injury last season.
“After not being able to run and do decathlons, it really reinforced how much I enjoy what I do,” Smith said.
His rise to the top took a detour during his second year when he injured his shoulder, requiring surgery.
The injury wasn’t something he had expected in his college career, Smith said.
“I knew that I had hurt my shoulder, but honestly I was just completely confused as to what had happened,” he said.
The third-generation track star hails from Santa Barbara and graduated from Dos Pueblos High School.
Chico State was Smith’s choice when he was deciding between colleges because of its track program and because his grandparents live in town, he said.
Although Smith is only a sophomore, he has already proven that he has what it takes to dominate at the Division II level, as he hit National Collegiate Athletic Association qualifying marks in his freshman year.
One of Smith’s proudest days of his sports career came when Chico State swept the decathlon at the California Collegiate Athletic Association championships during his freshman year, he said.
Smith competes in the decathlon, which includes the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter run, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run.
After redshirting last season, he is back with a new perspective about his love for track.
Smith found support from many people during his recovery, including his parents, who were able to schedule his surgery six months early, his roommate, who threw a ball around with him every day, and his teammates and coaching staff, who hounded him about his rehab, he said.
“There really is no way to give a bulk of it away, not even to myself,” Smith said. “There have just been so many people that have supported me throughout the years.”
Oliver Hanf, women’s track and field head coach, works extensively with decathletes and sees an extra something in Smith that allows him to succeed, he said.
“He has that drive in him,” Hanf said. “He wants to push himself to his limits and beyond,” Hanf said.
It’s all about the extra work Smith puts into the sport that will push him to the top of the leader board, said John Brunk, Smith’s teammate and friend.
“He is very driven to get in the extra work after hours,” Brunk said. “He loves to get in extra workouts when no one is looking.”
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