Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

Though he didn’t know it at the time, a cancelled soccer practice and a little peer pressure forever altered the course of Ben Barrows’ athletic career.

As a rail-thin freshman who wasn’t likely to crack the varsity soccer roster, Barrows was swayed to attend a cross country practice by classmates Zach Bargman and Grant Roberts.

“I ran with them and never really looked back,” Barrows said.

He still hasn’t. Barrows possesses a bright, collegiate future to look forward to after signing a National Letter of Intent to compete with the University of Central Missouri during a ceremony Friday, Feb. 26, when he made his decision official.

Barrows chose the Warrensburg school — a Division II institution and MIAA member — over the University of Missouri-Columbia based on a chance to make his presence known immediately. He likely faced a long climb onto the varsity roster for the Division I Tigers.

“I’m really excited for the challenge to be able to run with faster guys, and I think I’ll be able to challenge for a top-seven spot the first year right off,” Barrows said. “I know UCM has several runners who will be able to push me, so I can be the best I can be.”

Smithville coach Eric Klingensmith recognized Barrow’s potential when he took over three years ago. After he competed at the Class 2 Missouri Cross Country Championships as a freshman, Klingensmith helped forge Barrows into one of the state’s top runners, as he put together an 11th-place finish as a sophomore.

He earned another all-state showing (25th) despite a move up into the Class 3 ranks and nearly earned the elusive top-10 finish in Jefferson City this season before slipping to 38th.

“He had the potential to be a great runner coming up from those ranks,” Klingensmith said. “You can also just tell in the physique of Ben, he just looked like a runner. With that physique and some training on top of that, we tried to do the best we could with him to get him where he needed to be.”

Barrows also made strides during track and field season, when he advanced to the state meet in the 3,200-meter run for the first time in his accomplished career.

Through it all, he maintained an unwavering work ethic that allowed him to stand tall as one of the toughest and most consistent competitors in Northwest Missouri.

“I just knew with years of hard work, you just keep improving with running,” Barrows said. “That’s all I’ve been doing, keeping consistent with my training and getting better and better.”

Barrows’ goals now include a collegiate leaning, and he has factored those objectives into the final meets of his high school career. While he hopes for a return to the state meet and a shot at his first track and field metal, Barrows said he already must gaze beyond the coming months and toward the start of the second phase of his competitive career — one he hopes will be just as fruitful.

“That’s definitely a focus,” Barrows said. “I took this winter a lot more seriously than I ever have. I’ve been boosting my mileage for college, getting ready. I think I’ll come into the track season pretty ready.”

Sports writer Andy Meyer can be reached at 389-6632 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it