Never much of a competitor, Makenzie Smith ended her high school athletic career in short order.

"Soccer my freshman year, that was it," the 2005 Butler graduate said. "I didn't like it. I've never been a competitive person."

That was in high school. And that has since changed.

Now a freshman at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Smith walked on to the Pioneers cross country team, wound up getting a scholarship and wound up setting the program's record time at the NAIA Region IX qualifier at Shawnee State (Ohio).

"Makenzie is definitely on scholarship now," Point Park cross country coach Jim Irvin said. "She earned it."

Smith went to Point Park to major in public relations and advertising. She never intended to try out for an athletic team.

A friend on the Pioneer men's cross country team told her the women's team was looking for runners.

"I do running on my own anyway," Smith said. "I never did it seriously, just as a way to keep in shape. I wanted to meet people and make some friends in college and thought this might be a fun way to do it."

So Smith joined the squad, which only had five runners before she got there.

"Very quickly, I knew she had natural ability," Irvin said. "Her first couple if practices, Makenzie took the lead lap and stayed there.

"She finished 12th among all freshmen at our conference meet and that was with no previous training or preparation to run cross country."

Smith set the Point Park record of 21 minutes, 25.10 seconds at the Region IX qualifier Nov. 5. Her time was three minutes faster than what she posted at the season's opening meet on the same course.

"Picking up three minutes in the span of a season is drastic improvement," Irvin said.

It shows a bit of competitiveness as well.

"I think I matured and discovered I wanted to challenge myself," Smith said. "My teammates and my coach helped that way, too."

Point Park has had a women's cross country program for five years. Despite setting the school record, Smith placed only 57th out of 170 runners at the Region IX meet.

She was nearly eight minutes behind champion Joanna Genter (17:45.50) of Malone (Ohio) College and 23 runners finished the course in less than 20 minutes.

The top 20 runners from the regional advanced to the NAIA Championships this weekend in Louisville, Ky.

"My goal for next year is to run under 20 and get to nationals," Smith said. "I've got a year to work on it."

Part of that preparation time will be used entering spring track meets as an independent, competing in the 400 and 800 meters.

Point Park doesn't have a women's track and field team.

"I won't do any good in them," Smith said, laughing, about the track events. "I just want to build up my speed."

Irvin anticipates getting a lot more from his freshman walk-on.

"She can certainly get to nationals, and she can be an All-American scholar-athlete," he said. "Because of her work ethic, Makenzie is a team leader.

"When your best runner is also your hardest worker — that's an ideal situation for a coach."