Head Coach: Orey Smith

Quick Facts 

College: University of Arkansas, pursuing BA in International Relations

Hometown: Southlake, TX 

Residence: Fayetteville, AR

Coach Smith with Athlete Johhny Purvis post race. 

Personal Records
1500m: 3:45 (4:02 Mile) (2010)
3000m: 8:08 (2008)
5000m: 13:57 (2010)
5000m(r): 13:43 (2010) 

Running Career 

• Former member of the University of Arkansas men's Track & Cross Country teams (06'-08')
• 2nd, 2004 5A Texas State Cross Country Championships 04' (HS)
• Member of 2nd place Team, 2004 5A Texas State Cross Country Championships (HS) 
• 13th, 2004 Nike Team Nationals (HS)  
• 3rd, 2011 Armagh International Road Race (5k, Ireland)   
• Member of USATF as both an Athlete and Coach

About my running:
I started running when I was in 8th grade and was not a very talented runner (running over 9 minutes in my first timed mile) to begin with. However, being both stubborn and motivated proved essential qualities which helped to advance my running career as I diligently continued to pursue running into high school and saw myself gradually improve each year thereafter. I can attribute most of my high school success to having a great coach - Coach Robert Ondrasek. Most coaches would have dismissed my level of talent or lack thereof at the onset, but Coach Ondrasek did not. I saw my high school times go from very very bad to some of the best in Texas over the brief course of 4 years (More here).

Me (#2) post race after placing 3rd in the Armagh International
 Road Race in Ireland and leading Team USA to a 2nd place showing.
February 2011  

After high school I did a short one-year stint at Texas Tech University where I received a scholarship to run Track and Cross Country. In 2006 I decided to transfer to the University of Arkansas to train with the Razorbacks. My time at Arkansas ended up being shorter than anticipated with two red-shirted seasons and the 2008 retirement of John McDonnell. After his retirement, I decided to leave the team to continue my training under his guidance, as I believed he could help me achieve my goals of being an elite runner and at the same time allowing me to better my coaching knowledge while working with him.

Me at the Arkansas Invite
on the way to an
8:08 3k
January

Today:
I am currently pursuing a professional running career under the guidance of former University of Arkansas Coach John McDonnell. My strategic goal is to become highly competitive on the US and International stages. My main events on the track are the 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m.  

My Coaching Influence:
Throughout my running career, I have been fortunate to have trained under two great coaches.

My high school coach Robert Ondrasek is one of the best high school coaches in the nation. His teachings of individualization, consistency, and the importance of an aerobic foundation have played a large role in my understand of training. My college and current coach John McDonnell is inarguably the best Track & Cross Country coach in the history of college athletics. With his emphasis on aerobic strength, fast distance runs, and race-simulated track workouts, he has been a major influence in my coaching methodology. Influenced by the direct guidance of my coaches and the invaluable experience of being an elite athlete myself, I have developed a strong and solid understanding of distance training, the essence and basic fundamentals of running, and what it takes to be a top athlete.