Ron Smith
“I can't imagine my life any other way. The kids, coaches, families and officials I've met along the way are the very best part.”
—Ron Smith
The Great Southwest Track & Field Classic is pleased to welcome back announcer, Ron Smith. Smith, who hails from Phoenix, Arizona, had his announcing start when several years ago, Clyde Volz, The Great Southwest Track & Field Events Chairman, asked him to announce a meet.
Smith recalls:
“About 20 years ago, the biggest midseason invitational of the year in AZ, happened to take place at the school where I coached track for most of my 30-plus year career. Clyde Volz brought the meet to our site and partnered with our track staff along with a couple of other high schools in our district. When assignments and responsibilities began to come together in the weeks leading up to the meet, they penciled me in as the announcer. ”
“I had a college minor in speech and communications from NAU and was never afraid of the microphone—someone knew that. By the end of that very long day, I had received about 3 more local announcing opportunities and realized a very positive and encouraging reaction from Clyde Volz and many others. He began to hand my name and number to others around town and made sure to include me in the Great Southwest Meet that June. I remind him often what he did for me that has now amounted to 62 different assignments in 2010.”
“I knew early on in college that I had found something that would keep me focused as an athlete, teacher, coach, fan and ultimately announcer. ”
“ I am a passionate track fan (geek) who found a sport that probably suits an adult attention span that borders on a middle schooler. There is so much going on with that many events and one highlight coming right after another. I knew early on in college that I had found something that would keep me focused as an athlete, teacher, coach, fan and ultimately announcer. ”
“Finishing my degree could have been difficult without the motivation and get-up-and-go I learned from track and field. It became a life force with lots of adrenaline that I had to learn to manage. Ten or twelve hour days at major track invitationals are the norm for me most Saturdays in the spring, and thankfully, I can't imagine my life any other way. The kids, coaches, families and officials I've met along the way are the very best part.”
Since his debut with Great Southwest Classic, Smith has become an integral force of the meet.
“The first year Ron announced for us, I couldn’t stop getting over that voice,” recalls John Haaland, Director of the Great Southwest Classic. “And Ron had so many facts at hand. People kept coming up to me during the meet so excited about him. It was a meet I’ll never forget. It wouldn’t be the same without him.”
“The first year Ron announced for us, I couldn’t stop getting over that voice,” recalls John Haaland, Director of the Great Southwest Classic. “And Ron had so many facts at hand. People kept coming up to me during the meet so excited about him. It was a meet I’ll never forget. It wouldn’t be the same without him.”
A Great Southwest Classic that Ron Smith isn't likely to forget, came in his second year of announcing the meet:
“I was flying into Albuquerque when I became quite ill. After I returned to the hotel at the end of day one, I had the shakes and was in the bathroom much of the night. The next day, I could barely get out of bed but was determined to answer the ‘gun’ for the second half of the decathlon/heptathlon. I could not stand the thought of food but kept working saltine crackers and Sprite throughout the day. The local BBQ that is brought in for the workers is fantastic but one look at that almost sent me back to the restroom. It went that way the rest of the weekend but I made it through Saturday evening. On my return every year, that BBQ and I have a brief unsettled moment.”
“I'm often just the guy who holds the mic at the right time and place.”
Dubbed ‘The Voice’ by Milesplit Magazine, Ron Smith is highly regarded by athletes, coaches and spectators throughout the southwest. Paired with his distinctive voice, the enthusiasm he delivers makes Ron Smith a singular talent; every meet he announces, a memorable event.
“I'm often just the guy who holds the mic at the right time and place. In AZ, we recently witnessed a state record in the boys 3200 by Billy Orman at our state finals. He got away from the field quickly and begin to ‘solo’ a record pace that I made sure the crowd could not ignore. They became the most over-the-top crowd I have ever encouraged and they willed him to that record. I will never ever forget that evening.”
Ron Smith finds inspiration in all aspects of his work, giving elegant definition to the very qualities that make him much beloved by athletes, coaches, and spectators alike.
“My goal or style as a meet announcer has evolved through the years and much of it comes from feedback that the athletes and many of their parents have confided in me. I want it to honor the kids and "puff" them up while making their parents and coaches proud at the same time. I enjoy trying to make it fan friendly with little bits of inside information that often get passed along to me about the athletes that makes them a human interest story. But -- I love reading the stopwatch during a race to bring the pace to the crowd. A nice intro before the race begins and some kind of closure when it's over—but know when to be quiet and let this wonderful sport speak for itself.”