Note: The following appears in the Florida State gameday football program.
Rebekah Smith can thank her freshman-year friends during high school for pushing her to try a different sport. Smith gave up cheerleading and dance to showcase her natural ability to run.
Smith was raised by her mother, and she became her biggest inspiration and support system in her life.
“I never thought I would be able to reach what she always knew I could do. She always sees more potential in me than I ever could.”
Her track career was quite different in her high school years than at the college level.
At the home of the Silver Foxes, Dutch Fork High School, track was a popular sport and everyone seemed to be involved in it. It was a care-free atmosphere and not as competitive as other schools across the state.
“We did not go to New Balance Nationals and compete throughout the summer, so I never really knew about all the opportunities the track world had to offer.”
Growing up outside of Columbia, Smith knew all about the Gamecock program and decided that it was too close to home for her college experience.
“Clemson is not too far from home and it’s another home away from home.”
The success of the Tiger track program was another motive for her choice to attend Clemson.
The decision of pursuing track at a Division I level changed once offers started appearing at her doorstep. At first, it was many smaller schools that started to reach out to her, but she knew she could compete at a top program.