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AS FIRST WOMAN TAKES REIGNS OF TRACK TEAM

By Devin Lawson

WANTED: Head track coach at Southwestern College. Must be a college All-American and a national champion who is fast and can jump. Must be cool and able to connect with a diverse team. The first name of Tonie is preferred.

Tonie Campbell left big spikes to fill when he departed Southwestern College to become athletic director at Cuyamaca College in December. Unsurprisingly, Campbell skillfully mentored his replacement.

Toni Smith, the Jaguars’ sprightly jumpers coach for the past six years, took over the head coaching position just before the season started – the first female track and field coach in SC history and a rare woman coach anywhere who coaches men.

The young men and women on the team like the call, especially former Jaguar triple jumper Amanda Shaw, who won the CCCAA State Championship last year as well as a full ride to UC Davis.

Smith said she is humbled by the thought of succeeding Campbell but is ready to run with the top job.

“Tonie Campbell was a legend,” she said. “So yes I’m very nervous but I’m going to let those nerves be the fuel to my fire. Coach believed that I was the perfect coach for his team and my goal is to keep the winning culture alive, bring my A game and always be there for my athletes.”

Campbell was a record-setting high hurdler at USC and an Olympic silver medalist. Smith also has an impressive athletic pedigree. She was a 4-time All-American who broke the long jump record at Oklahoma University as a junior.

Even as a little girl Smith loved track, she said.

“It’s just something about seeing the track that makes me feel free,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s the breeze I catch when running or the euphoric feeling of doing a high jump and feeling on top of the world. I love it. It frees me mentally.”

Smith is CEO of Total Starr Fitness and enjoys serving the community. Coaching the Jaguars track team fits that box.

“This is a new challenge I am ready for,” she said. “I went from having seven athletes (in private training) to now being captain of the ship. It’s going to be a rollercoaster, but I will thrive and survive.”

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