By Chris Parker
Jasper’s Crystal Smith accomplished a rare feat on Saturday by becoming a four-time state champion in a single event.
Smith blazed a time of 14.79 to beat runner-up Ella Meyerkorth from Rock Port by almost a half second.
The accomplishment is something Smith never dreamed of entering high school.
“I would have thought it was crazy. I never would have thought I could get it four years in a row,” Smith said.
Smith, who is a four-sport athlete at Jasper, showed her athleticism by also winning the a javelin state title just two months after picking the implement up.
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“I started (throwing javelin) two months ago,” Smith said. “I had someone ask me if I had done javelin because I am a volleyball player. They said I should try it. At first, I thought I am not doing too good. I am never going to state in this let alone place first in it.”
Win it Smith did. She threw 135’10 to beat out Dora’s Haley Perkins by about eight feet.
She closed out her decorated career at Jasper with a runner-up finish in the high jump for three all-state finishes in one day brining her career total to 13 all-state finishes and six first-place finishes.
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All of her athletic feats aren’t something she could have done without her family and Jasper community.
“It has meant a lot to me. I have a whole bunch of family and supporters there who have really supported me in every sport I have done, so it has felt really good,” Smith said.
Smith will continue her athletic career at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith where she will play volleyball.
Smith along with teammate Chloe Storm combined for 31 total points to place third as a team with just two scoring athletes.
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