AACS’s Madelyn Smith Runs Away with Track & Field Coach of the Year Title
By Maria Beam Gray
Madelyn Smith was just 6 years old and living in Michigan when she first hit the ground running. What initially began as a young girl using sports to come out of her shell, has morphed into a high school coach who mentors other girls to gain lessons and values competing in track & field.
That commitment was recognized by her peers as coaches throughout the IAAM voted for Smith to be named the 2025 Track & Field Coach of the Year.
“As a coach, you show up to practices and you show up to meets and if you get to witness kids doing great things or setting PRs (personal records), that’s good enough,” noted Smith. “But then to know that the peers that you spend so many hours with recognize you beyond that is really nice.”
Smith has been with Annapolis Area Christian School’s track & field program since its inception around 2018, taking over as head coach in the second season.
The team has taken in stride the hurdle of not having a track on campus, and Smith gets creative with how they train, whether that’s on patches of grass on the football field or in the AACS field house on semi-turf flooring.
“Coach Smith encouraged us and taught us the necessary track drills even without a track,” said Dillan Clarke, a rising junior who ran the 100, 200, 4x1, and 4x2 for the Eagles. “She stood out by pushing players out of limiting mindsets and allowed players to reach new levels they never imagined, myself included.”
That kind of feedback is part of what Smith says is so rewarding about coaching, especially the “I just did that” moments when an achievement sinks in for an athlete.
“To see the look on a kid's face when they come running to you from the finish line after reaching a PR is amazing,” said Smith, who finds equal satisfaction when someone new to the sport ends up having fun and can't wait to come back the next year.
Student-athlete April Black was a junior this season, competing in the long jump and running the 400, 4x4, and 4x1. She appreciated that Smith still pushed and motivated even if a player was struggling.
“What stuck out to me about my coach is her commitment to every player on the team to do great,” praised Black. “Specifically for me, coach has always urged me to reach for greatness and never sell myself short. She wants her team and every player on it to be their best selves on and off the track.”
As for where the program goes from here, Smith is hopeful that the long-term goal of AACS getting a track of its own will eventually come to fruition. She’s also enthusiastic about spearheading the Eagle’s first-ever indoor track season next winter as the two programs will likely complement and strengthen track & field overall.
Whether they run for fun in high school or aspire to compete at the next level, Smith hopes that her athletes take away from track & field the ability to set a goal and go after it.
“There can be ups and downs in sports but a lot of times it’s really just about having a good group of kids who love to hang out as that can make a difference,” said Smith. “We were fortunate to have some great girls this season, and I hope they learned the value of discipline and perseverance.”