Name: MaKenzie Smith
School: Minnesota State University of Moorhead
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Donnelly MN
High School: Morris Area High School
Sport(s): Cross Country, Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field
Major(s): Chemistry


1. Tell us how you first got involved in your sport?
I couldn’t decide between swimming and cross country for a fall sport in 7th grade. I got a letter in the mail from the cross country coach that said I should join cross country so I did. It wasn’t a big thing at the time but looking back, that choice was a huge game changer and i’m very thankful that I picked the right one!

2. How did you end up deciding to attend your university and participate in athletics?
I visited the campus and felt really comfortable with the atmosphere. The people I talked to were really friendly and willing to help you find where you were going. The size of this campus was perfect for me. It’s not too small and not too big. I also really like the surrounding area. If my family ever needed to go shopping somewhere we would always go to Moorhead because there’s a store for everything and if it’s not in Moorhead then it’s in Fargo! Another big thing that helped me decide to come here is that there are so many places to run. I could run on a different route every day of the year if I wanted too. The trails are beautiful and streets aren’t super busy. Moorhead was just the perfect option for me :)

3. What have you learned from being a student-athlete?
I’ve learned how to be very organized and how to prioritize things. It can be difficult to stay organized with classes and practice but if you do it right it’s a lot of fun! I’ve also learned that you can’t be afraid of people. If you don’t know someone then go up and talk to them because it’s better to be friends with people than to not talk to anyone. At the same time sports is a great way to get to know people.

4. What are your plans following graduation?
I plan on getting a job and settling down around the Moorhead area. There’s still a lot of time between now and graduation and a lot of things could change but I really love this area.

5. What is it like competing in the NSIC?
It’s very exciting. It’s definitely a step up from high school competition wise but I still see a couple familiar faces outside of my teammates when we race and that makes it a lot of fun. I always look forward to racing in the NSIC because it gives me a chance to show people what I’ve got and I get to see what I’m up against. Everyone is also really friendly. After a race the person who I was right next to the entire race doesn’t hate my guts afterwards. Instead, they give me a high-five and congratulate me on having a strong race and that’s awesome!

6. Where is your favorite place to travel/play in the NSIC? (Besides your home arena) What makes it your favorite?
My favorite place so far was the Augie twilight meet. We got to run in the dark with glow sticks guiding the path. It was my first meet ever so that was an awesome way to kick off my college career.

7. What is your favorite memory so far in your collegiate career?
My favorite memory so far is the trip our team took to Itasca State Park before the season started. On that trip we got lost on one of the trails and our short run turned into a very long run. But the trip all together was a ton of fun and was a great chance to get to meet everybody!

8. Who has influenced you most in your life and how?
The person who has influenced me the most is my mother. She is the best role model a person could ask for. My mom’s dedicated and honest and really leads by example. She’s always willing to help people in need and puts others before herself. I love her a ton and hope that someday I turn out just like her!

Any additional information you would like to add, unique stories or situations, etc. Something people don’t know about you that you would like to share.
The very first day that I got on campus I went and did a workout with the girls and I only knew one of them before that day so I was trying really hard to remember everyone’s name and for some reason I thought the other freshman’s name was Rachel but of course I wasn’t sure so I never called her Rachel. After the workout she called me Rachel and I looked at her and said “Wait I thought your name was Rachel?” and she said “I thought your name was Rachel?” It turned out we both thought each other’s names were Rachel when in fact there isn’t even a Rachel on the team.