A blur. That's the memory Chauncy Smart remembers from the 2016 Florida Relays.
The senior speedster from Auburndale recalls coming out of the blocks and crossing the finish line.
Just like that. In a blur. Under 11 seconds.
His official time when he looked up was 10.30 seconds. Although it was wind-aided, the mark at the time was the fastest all-conditions time in the nation.
"I was really shocked and in disbelief," he said.
The results served as an eye opener for Smart, who signed with the University of South Florida on a football scholarship and plans to do both sports at the next level.
The win also had a special place in his heart. After losing one of his good friends, Affion, just weeks before to cancer, winning and losing had a new perspective.
"He was there when I first started running track so he saw me go through a lot and I saw him go through a lot," Smart said. "Ge always said he wanted to be just like me on the track and on the football field. Before he passed he told me that he want to see me make it since he couldn't run anymore."
"It showed me I can do anything I put my mind to because I just started running track my freshman year and I always told myself that I was never going to be as fast as these other athletes," he said.
The negativity faded and Smart believed in himself. He started putting in the work and all that changed.
One year after his first win at the Florida Relays, Smart will return to Percy Beard Track for a chance to defend his crown. He's been preparing by doing 150s and 250s, block starts and workouts to help with his turnover.
His goal? To run the perfect race and do everything Coach Gary Evans has taught him.
Ironically, Evans who also coaches the Adidas based Empire Athletics group, has a pupil by the name of Marvin Bracy.
According to our best of the last decade rankings, Smart's wind-aided 10.30 second race is third behind only Bracy's wind-aided 10.26 and Levonte Whitfield's wind-aided 10.21. The pair train together on occasion, with Bracy helping the youngster out with his start, turnover and most importantly, his form.
"I train with Marvin and it was funny we were both doing 300s and we both almost died from the workout," Smart said. "I told him I was about to pass him on the all-time list too and he said if I do he will give me some spikes."
"Since this is my last Florida Relays I want to go out and there and give it my all and do it for Affion, because I know he's going to be there with me during my race," he said.
