Former STETHS athlete now head coach at Morgan State

Janice Smythe, a former top athlete at St Elizabeth Technical High School, is one of many who earned track and field scholarships to US universities and later made the transition to coaching roles in that country.

Smythe, who specialised in the 400m hurdles in the late 1990s under the guidance of the late coach Eldemire Smith, is now the associate head cross country and track and field coach at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland where she has coached for the past 18 years.

The Gleaner caught up with Smythe at last Saturday’s Puma East Coast International Showcase, where she shared her journey from St Elizabeth to her current role with the Bears, the university’s nickname.

“In Jamaica, I went through the system from primary to high school, competing in track and field before earning a scholarship to Southern University of New Orleans,” she said. “After my freshman year, I moved to Morgan State University. That was the best decision I ever made — I’ve been here ever since,” said Smythe, who graduated in 2007.

As an athlete at Morgan State, Smythe was a member of the 2005 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) outdoor championship team. In that year, she was among the quartet who won the 4x400 metres at the championships. The following year, she made history at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships when she became the only female athlete to reach the finals of both the 400m and 400m hurdles, setting two of the fastest times in the university’s history. Smythe also ran in the NCAA National qualifier in the 400m hurdles in 2006.

Smythe has a number of administrative duties in addition to coaching at Morgan State.

“My job also includes being the director of operations — handling all team travel, supervising the Grant-in-Aid budget, monitoring student-athletes’ academic progress, and assisting with the development of hurdlers, sprinters, jumpers, and relay teams,” said Smythe, who prides herself on being a well-rounded coach, capable of contributing in any area.

During her coaching tenure, one of the standout seasons came in 2013-14 when the team placed second at the MEAC Cross Country Championships. In 2012-13, the Lady Bears qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 4x100m. Several individuals have also advanced to regional and national championships at the Division I level.

For Smythe, hosting Jamaican high-school athletes on the Morgan State University track during the Puma East Coast International Showcase was a special occasion.

“It brings me great joy to see these athletes come here to compete and gain new experiences. I was once in their shoes,” she said.