GREENSBORO, April 18, 2008 --  If Beyonce was walking the stands of  Aggie Stadium, junior women’s track and field hurdler Loreal Smith would speak but not be overwhelmed. If track and field superstar Gayle Devers lined up in the blocks next to her, Devers would be considered beatable like any other Smith opponent. Although she does acknowledge she would at least give him a hug, not even actor Taye Diggs can leave Smith awestruck. 

Smith just doesn’t impress easily.

While she respects the accomplishments of others, she knows to reach her goal of being an Olympian means she can’t go into any race believing  anyone else is better at what she does. Plus, she has overcome enough trials in her N.C. A&T career that should make others admirable in their own right.   

On Friday when she walked into Aggie Stadium to compete on the Irwin Belk Track, Smith was among some of the best athletes in the world. Some of the athletes had even reached her ultimate goal of being an Olympian. Even in the 400 meter hurdles race she competed in on Friday at the 2008 International Friendship and Freedom Games held at Irwin Belk Track, included 2004 All-American Christine Spence and former UCLA standout MacKenzie Hill.

Smith finished third behind Spence and Hill with a personal-best 59.52. “It’s exciting to compete against the best, but there can be the wrong kind of excitement,’’ said Smith. “Yes, there are Olympians here. But if I do the same things they did – work hard, don’t slack in my training and stay in the weight room – I can get where they’ve been. If they got there, I can get there too.

“I admire them for what they did, but I can’t put them on a pedestal. They’re human.”

Smith is not being disrespectful, but she has overcome too many obstacles to be an autograph seeker.  Throughout her career, Smith has proven not to be a superwoman either. Her Kryptonite early in her career was injuries.

Bone spurs led to surgeries and hamstring injuries led to more time off the track. She even had to redshirt one season because of injuries. The first two years of collegiate career made her discouraged to the point where she thought about not competing anymore. She credits N.C. A&T sprinters coach James Daniels for encouraging her to stay on the track.

“He had me believing I could not only come back, but that I had the potential to be one of the best hurdlers in the nation,’’ said Smith. “I didn’t want to let down my mom who got me started in track and field at a young age. I wasn’t raised a quitter and I knew I had not reached my potential.”

Smith came back strong her junior season and propelled herself to one of the top performers in the MEAC and the East region. She even added an event to her repertoire. Smith took on the task of running the 100 meter hurdles. Injury free, she excelled.

“Loreal has a quiet confidence about her,’’ said Daniels. “It is what drives her to achieve. Loreal knows she can compete against the best because she’s beat the best. If she is coming off the hurdles clean, she is tough to beat.”

Smith’s accomplishments reflect that. Smith walked away with gold in the 2007 MEAC Championships with a first-place finish in the 400 meter hurdles. She also was a part of the 4x400 meter relay team that took home gold. She qualified for the East Regional in both events.

She became a short hurdler during the 2007 indoor season. During the 2008 MEAC indoor championships, she had a 60 meter hurdle conference championship. She along with teammate Alexandria Spruiel became the first female Aggie track athletes ever to advance to the NCAA Indoor Nationals.

She has already qualified for three events for the East Regionals, including the 100 and 400 meter hurdles and the 4x100 relay. She will have a little extra inspiration to reach NCAA Outdoor Nationals this season with the East Regionals being held in her hometown of Tallahassee, Fla (on the campus of Florida State). It’s also an Olympic year. Therefore, Smith, like any other track athlete has set her goals a little higher. She has her sights on traveling to Beijing.

Does she believe she can get there? Well, of course she does. After all, it’s just another city.

“I’m definitely having fun again,’’ said Smith. “I’ve regained my confidence. I’m excited about running track again. I feel like if I run the way a capable of running, I have the capabilities to at least make it to the Olympic trials. The goal is to one day being an Olympian, even in ’08.”