534. Courtney Wayment Smith, Professional Runner for On

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 30 June 2022

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"I'm excited to just put myself in it and be a part of it and give myself a chance. I think incredible things happen when you believe in yourself and stay in the here and now and give yourself the chance."

On June 11, 2022, Brigham Young University graduate Courtney Wayment Smith made NCAA history. Competing at NCAA Championships, she ran the 3000m steeplechase in 9:16 — not only taking a commanding win, but breaking the collegiate national record (previously held by now-Olympian Courtney Frerichs) in the process. That time also put her at #5 on the all-time U.S. women's steeplechase list, behind Frerichs, Emma Coburn, Colleen Quigley, and Jenny Simpson.

To celebrate, Courtney signed with an agent (Ray Flynn) and signed her first professional contract with On! The icing on the cake: Courtney competed at USATF Outdoor Championships this past weekend, where she finished second in the 3000m steeplechase, earning her a spot on Team USA heading into next month's World Athletics Championships. Needless to say, it's been an exciting summer for Courtney, who lives in Provo, UT, and will continue training with her BYU coach Diljeet Taylor.

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What you'll get on this episode:

On getting used to saying "I'm a professional runner" (3:10)
How the pandemic impacted Courtney's college experience and her budding professional career (7:00)
Why Courtney loves the steeplechase (9:00)
On graduating from college, and celebrating accordingly (13:00)
Recapping NCAAs, USAs, and the celebrations in between (14:20)
What it felt like lining up at USATF Outdoor Championships, and all about the process of going pro (18:55)
All about the 3000m steeplechase final at USAs (27:25)
On navigating post-race interviews, mixed zones, media, and more (32:25)
Courtney's special bond with Coach Diljeet Taylor (41:00)
All about Courtney's signature hairstyle and those extra-long lashes (44:35)
Where Courtney's at mentally as she prepares for World Athletics Championships (46:50)

Follow Courtney:

Instagram @courtsasport20

Follow Ali:

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by YouCan.
0:04.5	Go to youcan.co slash alley and use code alley for 20% off your next YouCan order.
0:15.7	Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. I'm your host Alley Feller and every week I talk with people
0:21.3	who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond. We all share that love for running and
0:27.2	that's what brings us all together. But of course there is more to life than what happens on the
0:31.8	run itself. And this show is all about the in-betweens. We are talking about the moments and decisions
0:38.0	that have shaped who we are today and the wise. Why do we do what we do and how does getting sweaty
0:44.1	factor in? This past weekend was very exciting. It was USETF outdoor championships. That means
0:52.4	we now know which US athletes were sending to world championships in just a few weeks.
0:58.4	These were like the Olympic trials in non-alimpy gears. First up, Courtney Weyment.
1:05.5	Courtney is an absolute joy. I think you are going to love hearing from her today.
1:10.8	She just finished second in the 3,000 meter steeple chase at USA's sandwich right in between
1:17.4	steeple chase legends, Emma Coburn and Courtney Freirex. And that second place finish earned Courtney
1:24.8	a spot on team USA her first world championships team just a few days after signing her first
1:32.0	professional contract. Courtney is having quite the summer. The Brigham Young University graduate
1:37.9	competed at the NCAA championships where she won the 3,000 meter steeple chase and not only did she
1:43.9	become an NCAA champion that day, which I think we can say safely is every collegiate athlete's dream.
1:50.1	She obliterated the collegiate national record in the process. She broke Courtney Freirex's
1:56.1	collegiate record. She ran a 9-16 and that time puts her as the fifth all-time US woman on the steeple
2:04.5	chase list behind Courtney Freirex, Emma Coburn, Colleen Quigley and Jenny Simpson. So yeah,
2:09.9	she's in good company and did I mention she is fresh out of college in between NCAA's and USA's
2:16.8	Courtney signed with an agent Ray Flynn and signed her first professional contract with ON.
	...

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