Promotional poster for Press Pass Sports announcing the 'Player of the Week' with a female athlete in blue gear and sponsor logos on a dark background. — Selah Smith of Childress is the First United Bank Girls Athlete of the Week. [Joe Garcia III/ Press Pass Sports]

Selah Smith, Childress cross country, Soph.

On the course: The story behind Childress sophomore Selah Smith is the definition of perseverance. In May, while Smith and her family where in Florida were on vacation, Smith suffered a traumatic accident that resulted in her breaking her leg and ankle in three places. Smith had to have emergency surgery in Florida and her cross country season coming into the school year was in doubt. Smith worked hard and trusted in her faith to make sure she did everything she could to return to the course. Smith rehabbed and was consistent in her physical therapy to make it back right before district to compete at the Canyon Invitational. Then, during last Friday’s District 1-3A meet back at Canyon, Smith saw a full circle moment as she was able to leave the pack behind to claim an improbable individual district champion and punch a ticket to the Region I-3A meet by beating the field with a time of 13:03.9.

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Coach Eric Davis: “I want to brag on Selah. When this kind of incident happened it could devastate someone. She persevered, trusted in her faith and worked her tail off to make sure she returned. She had a tremendous physical therapist and he did a great job of getting her back, and she was able to shock everyone at the district meet. We weren’t sure if she was going to be able to get back, but she ran at the Canyon Invite and ran amazing there. I’ve been coaching 28 years and I haven’t seen a lot of injuries like that and a kid comeback and compete the way Selah did. She is very unique and she’s a fighter.”

Smith: “I played everything by ear after the injury and I took it all one day at a time. I still don’t feel my best and I’m not 100 percent but it I’m getting back to being my old self. It was pretty crazy because it felt like such a long journey to get back. From breaking my ankle in three places and getting back to run is a true blessing. I’m looking forward to running at regionals and winning district was a huge accomplisment, but the way I look at it, just every time I get to run is a blessing and I don’t take it for granted.”