Davidson Fine Art 2024 runner Chris Swint signs with Marshall Track
Last week, Christopher Swint ended his illustrious athletics career.
The 2024 Davidson Fine Arts School graduate made it official by signing his contract with Marshall University during a ceremony attended by his family, friends and coaches.
Swint finished second in the 200-meter dash (21.61) and 400-meter dash (49.16) at the Georgia High School Association boys track and field championships in May, choosing to join the Thundering Herd despite offers from Georgia Tech and Umass.
It was a long road to finding new players, but Swint had his mind set on a decision early in the summer. In typical Signing Day fashion, he alerted the crowd to his selections before announcing his final decision.
“It took a while. It’s a difficult process to figure out where you want to be home for the next four years of your life,” he said. “It felt like home. The coaches were super supportive of everything I did. The constant love for me and everything they wanted to do for me and the way they would develop me, but also that they saw me as more than just an athlete. That’s what struck me. Seeing me as a person.”
His mother Dawn agreed with Swint that the decision was about much more than just sport.
“I’m extremely proud of him and all his accomplishments,” she said. “He had so many opportunities and I’m happy with his choice. The school was great and as a mother I have to send him there for four years and knowing they’re taking care of him, I feel comfortable with that.”
How Swint became one of Georgia’s best high school sprinters
Swint has twice finished on the podium at the state championships. What is more remarkable about Swint’s accomplishments, however, is that he changed his running style halfway through his high school career. A former long-distance runner, he quickly became one of the state’s best sprinters after learning his running style practically from scratch.
How rare is that? Davidson coach Adam Kowalczyk put it into perspective.
“I really can’t put it into words. All of his training, his body is built for long-distance running. That’s all he’s done since he was a kid, even before he was here at Davidson,” he said. “He’s grown a lot and matured physically, but to switch in the middle of his high school career and see his success, I can’t put into words how difficult that is. The countless hours of training, adjusting his stride, his hand position, his swing, everything about running, he had to make those adjustments.”
Swint has been participating in Davidson’s track and field program since sixth grade, which provides him and his coaches with a unique opportunity because he has grown up in the same environment for much longer than a traditional high school athlete.
“From a coaching perspective, I think it’s great. You get to work with him for another three years. A lot of high school coaches you get in ninth grade and then they develop,” Kowalczyk said. “It’s been a great opportunity to see him grow; and on a personal level, you’re still a baby in sixth grade. To see them really develop and grow as people. I think back to how he was as a little sixth grader when we were just starting track and field, how different he is as a person and as an athlete. That development is so tremendous with Davidson and I just love that.”
Despite offering only swimming and golf less than a decade ago, Davidson’s athletic programs are still growing and thriving. While Division I signings have been rare throughout the school’s history, they may become the norm in the near future.
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