For those who don’t know of former track and field star D.J. Smith, they may not know of one of the most storied careers in Auburn history.
Originally a two-sport athlete, Smith excelled in both basketball and football, receiving high-level college interest in both sports.
However, the Atlanta native didn’t consider competing in track and field until the assistant basketball coach at Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Georgia asked Smith to put his vertical leap to the test.
At the end of Smith’s three-year career at Northside, he was a three-time Georgia state champion in the high jump, a two-time U.S. junior national champion in the high jump and earned a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, by clearing a personal-best 2.24 meters.
He was also named Georgia’s Gatorade Athlete of the Year as a high school senior.
High-level schools were lining up for his services, but as a three-sport athlete, Smith had to make a decision on what sport to stick with.
Ultimately, Smith chose track and field, and according to him, he doesn’t regret it.
“I narrowed it down to which sport was going to last longer and which sport would give me more options,” Smith said. “I like to travel too, and I also like my freedom, so track was the way to go.”
Smith would go on to have a decorated college career, where he was named to multiple All-SEC Teams and took home multiple SEC Championships.
Smith’s biggest accomplishment came during the 2015 indoor season, where he became the first Auburn Tiger to win a SEC Championship in the high jump since Donald Thomas in 2007.
“I was excited when I won, but it didn’t really hit me until a couple of days later,” Smith said. “In the moment, you see so far into the future that you don’t really get to enjoy what is right in front of you. When I finally realized that I was an SEC Champion, I understood that this is an accomplishment that nobody can ever take away from me.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
