Ardrey Kell鈥檚 Smith running his way to the service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BVM) — Some things are just bigger than sports. Murphy Smith of Ardrey Kell High School has the cross country world at his fingertips as the North Carolina Gatorade Boys Cross Country Player of the Year and North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A champion. He could focus on his career and never worry about another thing.聽
But instead, Smith has chosen a life of sport and service. Not only through community service, but through his college commitment. Despite garnering interest from in-state perennial power North Carolina State, the 5-foot-11 runner has chosen to continue his running career at the United States Naval Academy.聽
鈥淚f you asked me two years ago, I’d have never said I’d end up at the Naval Academy, it kind of just happened that way,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭he Navy reached out after my junior year, I looked into it and realized I always looked up to service members. It’s something I really admired and I admired the people who took that path.鈥�
Smith says he became obsessed with the opportunity upon completing some of his own research. He would watch YouTube videos and read articles about the Navy, realizing more and more that this was something that would suit him well.聽
After attending a service academy, you have to serve five years as a member of the US military. Smith doesn鈥檛 know yet what he will choose as his commissioning occupation yet, but it’s been made clear that he will have plenty of chances to learn about his choices.
鈥淎t the academy, you can go on cruises to learn more about the different paths,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 service warfare, marines, you can fly, all sorts of different ways to commission. I’ll take full advantage of that and find what suits me best.鈥�
Not only has the future Midshipman chosen to serve our country, but he also chooses a life of service back at home in North Carolina. He has volunteered with countless organizations that include the likes of libraries, elementary schools and botanical gardens.聽
But his favorite place to help out was at the Carolina Thread Trail, a place that he himself finds some deep value in.聽
鈥淭hey do expansive work with keeping waterways clean and trails clean and building trails,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淏eing a runner, I love the outside trails and exploring nature, it’s always an honor to be able to be part of the reason this can keep growing.鈥�
A life dedicated to serving others has, in return, served Smith well. That unrelenting stamina to always keep pushing has assisted him in other aspects of life. In the classroom, the brainiac has a 4.43 weighted GPA and on the cross country course, well, that鈥檚 why Smith is so well-known.
In Class 4A, the largest classification in the state, Smith broke the tape with a time of 15:44.65, winning himself a state title and leading the Knights to a team finish of third overall. He鈥檚 a two-time all-state selection and ranks in the top 100 of the nation鈥檚 fastest 5K competitors.聽
Smith is just like the rest of us, except he鈥檚 got some serious willpower that drives him to aspire for more, day in and day out, whether it’s for himself or oftentimes, the well-being of others. He understands that it takes hard work, but in the end, the feeling of accomplishment is the most rewarding prize of all.
鈥淪ome days it’s hard to get out the door 鈥� it’s like 鈥榦h my gosh, it’s going to take an hour or more and it’s hot and humid,鈥欌�� Smith said. 鈥淏ut I know it needs to get done if I want to be as good as I want to be. It feels better when it’s done and the sense of accomplishment is what keeps me going.鈥�
