Growing in the Shadows: Devin Smith’s Journey Through Carthage Cross Country
When coaches and fans reflect on Carthage’s cross‑country program, talk often turns to the glory years of the mid‑1990s. The Tigers dominated their district meets thanks to a culture of daily discipline and a willingness to grind through the rolling hills of the team’s home course. Head coach Brian Crigger, who now leads the program, has spent recent seasons reminding young runners what it takes to regain that championship edge. He tells them that success is rooted in “consistency and hard work” and that the Carthage course is intentionally unforgiving because it “tests runners’ mental and physical strength.”
Among the athletes taking those lessons to heart is Devin Smith, a quiet competitor who has emerged as a dependable scorer for the Tigers. Smith joined the varsity as an underclassman and was thrust into varsity races early in his career. At the 2022 Carthage Invitational, he lined up alongside runners from dozens of programs and felt the nervous energy of a home crowd expecting strong performances. Despite his youth, Smith finished 23rd overall in a field of more than 100 runners, completing the hilly 5,000‑meter course in 19:19.8. The time equated to a 6:12 mile pace – respectable for a freshman navigating one of southwest Missouri’s tougher layouts. His performance offered a glimpse of potential and foreshadowed his role in Carthage’s scoring five.
Running at Carthage isn’t simply about posting times; it’s about embracing a lifestyle. Coach Crigger often recounts that his runners are up before sunrise, grinding through preseason mileage while their classmates are still sleeping. He has acknowledged that his boys’ team is “young” and that, after losing senior leaders, they have had to learn quickly and lean on one another to improve. Crigger named senior Eddy Fuentes as the exemplar of leading by example, noting that the group must push each other if they want to replicate the success of previous eras. Smith, who watched upperclassmen like Fuentes train with focus, has absorbed those habits. He is a leader for this team, and his diligence shows on the course.
After a strong start to his high school running career during his freshman year, Devin faced significant challenges due to injuries that persisted throughout his sophomore and junior seasons. It required multiple rounds of physical therapy and consultations with several specialists before he found a solution. Overcoming adversity was not easy; it demanded immense strength, positivity, and a commitment to working hard to achieve his goals. This journey would not have been possible without the support of his parents, coaches, and friends. Devin often says, “Don’t let adversity or injuries be roadblocks. Hurdle over them and punch adversity in the mouth. Never be content and always strive to be better.” The challenges he faced truly embody the spirit of Carthage Cross Country.
By 2025, the benefits of Smith’s commitment were evident. In early November, Carthage traveled to Nixa for the MSHSAA Class 5 District 2 Championship. Competing against powerhouse programs such as Nixa and Rockhurst, the Tigers entered with modest team expectations. Smith lined up as the third scoring runner behind teammates Javen Byrd and Carter Moser, both of whom had dropped their personal‑best times during the season. He covered the district course in 18:06.30 to finish 78th overall in a field loaded with all‑state talent. More importantly for Carthage, his performance helped the Tigers place 13th as a team, a respectable showing for a group full of underclassmen. Compared with his 19:19 on the home course two years earlier, Smith’s new time represented an improvement of more than a minute and indicated that he had not only gained fitness but also learned to manage pace and racing strategy.
Smith’s climb has been steady rather than flashy. He has rarely finished atop leaderboards, yet his progression embodies what Carthage’s program values: dedication, incremental improvement and the willingness to accept a supporting role. In post‑race interviews, Crigger stresses that the team’s path back to prominence hinges on dozens of small victories like Smith’s personal best at district. He reminds his runners that losing seasoned seniors demands that younger athletes step into the void, and Smith has done so quietly, becoming a reliable contributor alongside Byrd, Moser and Isaac Lankford.
As Smith prepares for his final high‑school season, his coach continues to challenge him. Crigger believes that if Smith maintains his training consistency and sharpens his race‑day tactics, he can help Carthage advance further at the state level. Smith, for his part, isn’t motivated by headlines or medals. He says the sport has taught him to embrace discomfort and appreciate the camaraderie of a pack working toward a common goal. “Cross country taught me that the workouts you hate are the ones that make you stronger,” he says. “When Coach pushes us up the big hills, we don’t complain; we just look at each other and know we’re getting better.”
Stories like Devin Smith’s don’t always grab regional headlines, but they reveal the core of Carthage cross country: hardworking athletes developing grit in the shadow of bigger stars. Smith may never win an individual championship, but his upward trajectory, team‑first attitude and daily grind epitomize the Tigers’ pursuit of their storied past. With another year to train on those challenging hills and a coach who refuses to let standards slip, Smith has a chance to finish his high‑school career as one of the program’s most improved runners and to help lay the foundation for Carthage’s return to the podium.
