Smithville’s Kaitlyn Carr caps senior season with long-awaited cross country state title

Standing on the podium is something Smithville senior Kaitlyn Carr has become very familiar with over her prep career, not just in cross country, but also in track and field, where she has won four state titles including bringing home a team state title in 2024. The only thing eluding the Smithies legend was cross country, and this fall she chalked that off.

Blazing a 17:29.19, she erased years of just missing by taking home the Division IV state title at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park Saturday, Nov. 1.

“It was really special to finally stand on top of the podium,” Carr said. “I have been looking forward to that since the beginning of my high school cross country career. I think it was a great way to finish my senior season, and I was really looking forward to the redemption from my previous seasons.”

“I am so proud of her and happy for her," Smithville coach Greg DeRodes said. "She works so hard. You just love to see it pay off. It’s nothing that I’ve done. It’s all her. Ever since she was in seventh grade, there has been something special about her. You knew that she had a sky-is-the-limit type of mentality, so I am not really surprised."

Sprinkle in a few other amazing tidbits including being the area’s record holder for girls cross country and her commitment to Notre Dame University earlier this fall, and it’s been a few months to remember. Carr broke Norwayne standout and current Nebraska Cornhusker Jaylee Wingate’s area mark of 18:15, set in 2022, a year later with a 17:55.1. Ever since then, she has just been working to make it that much harder for the next standout to try and take it from her as she walks away with an area-best 17:10.97.

“Freshman year I think I ran 18ish (18:32) my first time here,” Carr said about running sub-18. “It’s surreal to be doing that, to be running that fast now.”

And the key to her success is relatively simple: pace.

“It’s all about pacing,” she said. “I like to get out fast, start my race off good, but I really focus on running an even race throughout the whole race. I don’t want to get out too fast or finish too slow.”

Having teammate Maryn Erdman, a junior, join her at state was a highlight as the two are close.

“It’s definitely great to have a teammate that can push me and run fast times,” Carr said.

As close as Carr and Erdman are, so is the senior to the program with its relationships, bonds and friends that will last a lifetime, where a young girl developed into a Div. I recruit.

Her commitment, hard work and passion for running all culminated in her commitment to Notre Dame University in October. Then she subsequently signed her national letter of intent Friday, Nov. 14, a decision that just felt like home.

“Notre Dame really stood out to me,” Carr said. “Other than being a top-ranked school academically and athletically, I think just from the moment I stepped on campus I felt at home. I really like the coaches, and all of the girls on the team are amazing people. I am really looking forward to continuing my running career at Notre Dame.”

With all that said, it’s safe to say Thanksgiving at the Carr residence will be just a little more special this year. With traditions Carr loves so much and with great news and a bright future, there is much to smile about for her and her family this year.

“Thanksgiving is always a really special time for me,” she said. “I love seeing my extended family, my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and so on. It will be extra special this year with all of the news I have to share with my family, and I definitely have a lot to be thankful for.”

As for her favorite tradition.

“I don't really have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition because we have so many good ones,” she said. “Thanksgiving Day, it is really great to see all of my extended family and, of course, participate in the annual Thanksgiving football game.

“The days following Thanksgiving, we normally always make buttercream candies as a family to pass out around the holidays. Unfortunately, we will not be able to make them this year because I will be running that weekend, but I am definitely looking forward to making them next year. The last tradition I would like to share is watching the Ohio State versus Michigan football game. It is always a great start to the Christmas season if the Scarlet and Gray beat the Maize and Blue. Go Bucks.”