ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Fiona Smith didn’t just run the fastest race of her life Saturday afternoon. She ran the fastest 6K race that the College of Saint Benedict cross country program has ever seen.
After setting the CSB 6K record in the first race of her collegiate career on Sept. 4, Smith smashed her own school record and personal best by 36 seconds Saturday at Carleton’s Running of the Cows in Northfield. For her huge performance and for setting another record, Smith is this week’s CSB Athlete of the Week.
Earlier this month, Smith broke Saint Benedict’s 6K record by four seconds, and came just short of becoming the first athlete in program history to break 22 minutes in a 6K. Saturday, she left no doubt. Her winning time of 21:27.4 is 36 seconds faster than the previous record, and 33 seconds better than the second-place finisher. She is the Bennies’ first athlete to run a 6K faster than 22 minutes.
Not only was her winning time a school record, it also marked the meet and course record. The previous course record was 21:45, set in 2017, and the Running of the Cows meet record was 22:04, set in 2015. Both previous records had been set by Carleton athletes.
Smith finished first out of 92 runners Saturday morning, marking the second win of her CSB cross country career. She and her teammates have a short turnaround this week as they compete again Friday, Oct. 1, at UW-Eau Claire’s Blugold Invite at 5:15 p.m. in Eau Claire, Wis.
