On Tap with ... Kashif Smith

Q: What is the greatest highlight of your sports career?

A: Junior year of high school, winning the state championship in the 60m. I false-started and got disqualified in the same race as a sophomore, so redemption a year later in the same race is something that I’ll always remember.

Q: Who is your quirkiest teammate, and why?

A: I would say [sophomore mid-distance runner] Russell Dinkins. It’s like he has a jukebox playing in his head so he’s always dancing. I would ask him to teach me some moves, but he can’t seem to hear me over his music.

Q: Who gets the most girls on your team and why?

A: This is a hotly contested title, but based on my eye-witness experience, I think its [freshman jumper] Damon McLean. He can close the deal faster than [junior sprinter] Ivan [Charbonneau] can run 100m, which is really fast. I think it’s the Jamaican mojo that the ladies love and the fact that he tells girls that he knows how to fly. They like that.

Q: Which one of your teammates would make the best husband or wife?

A: For the best wife, I would have to say “Mean” Eileen [Moran, a junior sprinter]. She definitely knows how to have a good time. She’s nice, super fast, yet still feminine and attractive — very rare combo.

Best husband would be [junior distance runner] Don Cabral. He likes doing things for a long time so that would help keep a happy and everlasting marriage. I once saw him running and thought. “Wow, he could run forever.” That made me think of diamonds, which last forever and symbolize marriage.

Q: If you were your coach for a day, what would you do?

A: I would switch the workouts for all event groups. Us short sprinters always get hated on because we have the “easiest” workouts, but I’d like the distance runners or the field event guys to try to run 60m at 75 percent while holding perfect form and still looking good. It’s very difficult. All the throwers do is lift heavy weights and get big and throw far. I could probably do that. And distance runners? All they do is just run, like, 100 miles a week. That’s basically just running a couple meters, then running a couple more, and then just keep doing that over and over again. I know I could do that.

Q: Do you or your team have any odd rituals?

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A: Before a big meet we like to go out, get manicures, pedicures and haircuts. Then we get fresh new orange and black gear. Some of the girls like to put on makeup and whatnot, but when a guy tried that a couple of years back it wasn’t received very well. Anyway, we like to look good, because if you look good, you feel good. And if you feel good, you run good. And running good is the ultimate goal in the life of a track star.

Q: What was your most embarrassing moment at Princeton?

A: The 17th Annual Freshman Talent show at Cap [& Gown Club]. I chose to serenade a girl as my “talent.” I didn’t know that I couldn’t sing. I heard people sing before and thought that it sounded easy enough. I got up there and performed in front of all these new faces and everyone laughed hysterically. Given the chance again, I would probably play an instrument. Now, that looks easy.

Q: If you weren’t a runner, what sport would you do?

A: If I weren’t a runner, I would probably be a gymnast or a golfer. I think my athleticism would really shine on a golf course.

Q: What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?

A: Probably “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie. My mom likes the song, and so do I. It has a really good message that applies to big girls and grown men equally well.