Richey-Lambert Senior Will Run His Virtual National Race Thursday In Glendive

By Lily Dozier for DyeStat

(Photo MHSA)

Richey-Lambert in northeastern Montana isn't the sort of place that's used to producing national qualifiers in high school running events.

But it has one now. Senior Sam Smith, the Class C cross country champion in Montana, scored the fifth and final individual spot in the Northwest region for the 2020 Nike Cross Virtual national final, which will be held all week across the U.S.

Smith, whose high school has just 25 other students, will run Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Mountain time on the cross country course at Glendive, Mont. -- 50 miles to the south. It's the closest established course that does not include any pavement.

Quick Links: NXV Watch Guide | AthleticLIVE Results | Follow #NikeCrossVirtual

“It just seemed like the best option, all the way around,” Smith said.

Qualifying for the NXV nationals this week means a lot to Smith because it is an opportunity to gain connections that he otherwise wouldn't have.

“To be part of something that’s nationwide, and being able to connect with each of these other runners… it’s cool to be part of something so big,” Smith said.

Dawson County, Montana is home to vast expanses of prairie, ranchland and rock formations. There are just 3.8 people per square mile. 

Coming from such a small community has "definitely" impacted his cross country experience, Smith said. 

“You don’t get to run with as many people,” Smith said. “It’s much harder. I run alone most of the time if I’m not running with my coach.”

Richey-Lambert's cross country team has just five runners, but it does have a pretty talented coach. 

Cesar Mireles, who ran at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, finished 85th in the 2019 New York City Marathon (2:32:20). 

"(Smith) is a kid who does not settle for just being good," Mireles said. 

Smith has been driven to succeed and he finished second twice at the Montana Class C state final before winning it in October on a snow-covered course in Kalispell. 

Smith remains motivated to keep training because he sees running as a talent gifted to him by God.

“I’m expected to use it to the best of my abilities,” Smith said. “People aren’t given a Class C (title) gift. They’re not given a JV or Varsity gift. You have to use (your gift) to the fullest extent, and that is such a motivation.”

Mireles said Smith has learned to handle the disappointment of losing at state the past two years, as well as last year's NXR Northwest open race, where he finished 94th. 

Winning this year's state title and earning that fifth NXV qualifying berth has been huge for his confidence.

“I was sitting at home just watching for the (NXV) deadline, waiting for the timer to run out, just to make sure nobody put one (in) right at the end,” Smith said. “I thought I got it, then we had to wait for the confirmation.”

Smith was at school Nov. 10, just two days after the deadline, when he received the news of his qualification.

“They announced his name on the Nike Cross website and he was just super excited,” Mireles said. “He came in to let me know during the school day. I was just really happy and very excited for him.”

Smith ran a PR time of 15:25.0 to get the qualification time he needed to advance to the final. 

“I was very proud of him,” Mireles said. “To see him go after that goal, day in and day out, and being able to actually get that goal was just amazing for him.”