With support to grow as a student-athlete, Hayden Smith developed into the MIAA long jump champion his senior year.
After near misses – he was the runner-up in the high jump in 1968 and placed in the high jump, long jump, 100 meters and 4x100 relay in 1969 – Hayden tied the school record of 23 feet to win the long jump in 1970.
Named Albion’s most improved track & field athlete in 1968, Hayden was a co-captain of the 1969 and 1970 teams.
A mathematics major at Albion, Hayden went on to complete six marathons in less than 2 ½ hours and he completed the Western States 100 mile endurance run.
After successful stints as the cross country coach at Flowing Wells High School and Pima Community College in Arizona, Hayden returned to Albion in 2001 as the cross country and women’s track & field coach. In 13 seasons, the men’s cross country team qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship twice and the Britons sent an individual qualifier to the meet four times.
“Albion College provided the environment, opportunity and support to grow as a student and athlete,” Smith noted in his personal statement. “When I returned as a coach, I wanted to reciprocate the experience for the current student-athletes.”
