Happy Father’s Day: Stevenson High School grad beats dad’s record in 110 meter hurdles

Happy Father’s Day: Stevenson High School grad beats dad’s record in 110 meter hurdles

Darrow Smith, left, with his son, Joshua, a freshman at Spring Arbor University and Stevenson High School graduate. Joshua beat his dad’s 34-year college record for the 110 meter hurdles. Submitted by the Smith family.

Joshua Smith was bound to win a race.

He’s an All-American.

But to beat a record held by his dad at the 2016 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships?

That was a gift.

“I was there when it happened. It was just fantastic,” said Joshua’s father, Darrow Smith of Katy, Texas. Prior to moving to the Lone Star State, Darrow and his wife, Gail, along with Joshua and his siblings, Rachel, Anna and Isaac lived in Sterling Heights, where Joshua attended Stevenson High School.

“It’s a dream come true for a parent to witness their kid doing something awesome, but then to see them surpass you? That’s pretty awesome,” said Darrow, Storage System Administrator II, IT Technical Services for Harris Health Systems.

In his final race as a freshman at Spring Arbor University and just in time for Father’s Day, Joshua not only posted a personal-best time in the 110 meter hurdles but he smashed the 34-year school record that was held by his father, an SAU Athletics Hall of Famer.

His time: 14.62.

His dad’s time: 14.84.

“Honestly, I just wanted to perform and do my best. Then, when I looked at the clock I couldn’t believe I actually did it. I surprised myself,” said Joshua, who chose to attend his parents’ alma mater.

“That’s where we met,” Darrow said.

A Canadian from Hamilton, Ontario, Gail played volleyball while attending the college. Darrow was also a college athlete but unlike his son who has been competing in track and field since the seventh grade, Darrow was a late bloomer. After graduating high school he was working at a grocery store when a friend of his decided to try out for the track team at SAU. He asked Darrow to come along for moral support. So, Darrow took the day off and joined him. During the tryouts word of Darrow’s talents as a high school hurdler reached the coach, who asked him if he wanted to try out for the team. He said no but the coach insisted.

“He threw some shorts at me. So, I did, and I was very fast,” Darrow said.

When he got home his mother was waiting for him.

“You need to go to that college,” she said to Darrow.

As it turned out, his time was not only fast but seconds shy of breaking the field house record. The coach was so impressed he offered him a partial scholarship. He took it, and the rest is Spring Arbor history. Joshua, on the other hand, was born to be an athlete, inheriting athletic genes from both mom and dad. She’s a teacher, who not only played volleyball but coached a middle school volleyball team. She took a group of girls who had never played, taught them the game and led them to a championship title. Joshua’s siblings are all into sports and both grandfathers were athletically inclined: Darrow’s dad was a well-known pitcher in Alabama and Gail’s dad played football for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He’s also a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

But bloodline alone does not make one a winner.

As a seventh-grader Joshua was a member of the school track team and however fast, he crossed the finish line last. That’s when his mom, who witnessed his defeat and anguished look told Darrow that he needed to do something.

“Ever since (then) he’s been my coach,” Joshua said. “He got me to where I am now.”

Joshua and the family will be together on Father’s Day. Joshua said his dad is getting a pair of cool Jordan Horizon sneakers that he would never buy himself. Then he and his father will stand together for a photo in front of the family’s wall of fame.

“It’s an honor to be able to break my dad’s record. I’ve been wanting to do it for a long time. So, this is really special to me,” said Joshua, who is hoping for a career in the health field, maybe something to do with exercise or fitness. For now he has his eye on track and maybe the Olympics.

As a freshman with the SAU Cougars, Smith owns program records in two events: 60 meter hurdles and 110 meter hurdles. He entered the national championships ranked 23rd and walked away at the end of his season ninth in the nation.

“Records are meant to be broken,” said Darrow, who still holds a few at SAU. “I expect that but for it to be held by someone in my bloodline? That’s cool. I raised my own successor.”