Hannah Smith, a former forward for the Grand Canyon Antelopes soccer team, has quickly made her mark in track and field after joining the program less than seven months following her final soccer game, according to a May 12 announcement. Smith is now part of the women’s 4×100-meter relay team that recently broke the Grand Canyon University (GCU) record ahead of this weekend’s Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The transition highlights how student-athletes can excel across multiple sports while balancing academics and competition. The Grand Canyon Antelopes compete in NCAA Division I events and participate in the Western Athletic Conference under NCAA Division I rules, offering student-athletes opportunities for development and academic success, according to the official website.
Smith had never run track before but was recruited by GCU head coach Tom Flood after he observed her speed during a soccer match. “You just watch them send the ball along and watch this girl run and chase down the ball and think, ‘She’s got some track speed,'” Flood said. “We’re just scratching the surface on her track talent.” Smith described her first experience with track as nerve-wracking: “I was definitely shaking in the blocks,” she said of her debut race. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so scary. Don’t false-start.’ It was a crazy experience.”
Her athleticism had long been recognized by GCU soccer head coach Chris Cissell: “She was always just killing it and was one of the fastest, if not the fastest, every year,” Cissell said. “For someone to be a good enough athlete to succeed at two Division I sports, that’s insane.” Smith quickly adapted to technical aspects such as starting block mechanics and sprint form with support from teammates who welcomed her into their community.
Smith joined graduate Atena Rayson, sophomore Cassie Small, and sophomore Nena Thevenin to set a new school relay record with a time of 44.18 seconds at a March meet in Mesa; later improvements dropped it further to 43.90 seconds with junior Taliyah Booker joining Small, Smith, and Thevenin—placing them ninth in their region for that event.
Looking ahead, Smith plans to continue competing for GCU while pursuing her master’s degree next year—a testament both to individual determination and institutional support provided by programs like those at Grand Canyon University where intercollegiate athletics are based according to its official website. Reflecting on an unexpected journey from one sport family into another supportive environment at GCU she said: “This came out of nowhere but it’s been the best thing ever… Sometimes God just has a bigger plan—and better plan—than you could’ve thought of for yourself.”
