Cross Country | 11/18/2021

Live Video | Live Results

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Fiona Smith's first season with the College of Saint Benedict cross country team has already been a memorable one – and it's not over yet.
 
Saturday, Smith wraps up her sophomore season at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships. She'll toe the line with the best runners from around the country starting at 11 a.m. CST at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky., with a national title and All-American honors on the line.
 
While Smith is no stranger to the national stage – she took fifth in the 5K at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May – this is her first experience at the national cross country meet. She is the Bennies' 11^th national qualifier, and the first since 2018.
 
After setting the school 6K record – again – Saturday on her way to winning the NCAA North Region individual championship, Smith has her sights set on another school record Saturday morning. All five of Smith's wins, including her MIAC championship and the region title, have been by at least 20 seconds, and Saturday she'll have competition from all around the NCAA to push her every step of the way.
 
Smith's biggest competition looks to be Loras senior Kassie Parker. Parker won the NCAA Midwest Region title last weekend, and finished ahead of Smith when the two ran head-to-head at the Lewis and Clark Invite on Oct. 16 in Portland. Both athletes set their respective school records that day, and Parker finished the 6K in a career-best 20:10 to win the individual title. Parker is undefeated against Division III competition this season, and has won all of her races by an average of 45 seconds.
 
Carleton's Clara Mayfield has been behind Smith several times this season, and she ran a career-best 21:24 to finish second at the region meet on Nov. 13. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is the second-ranked team in the country, led by Meredith Bloss, who recorded a career-best 20:31 in September. Tufts' Danielle Page earned USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week honors this season, took second at her region meet and ran a career-best 21:02 in mid-October.
 
While Smith is the 11^th national qualifier in CSB cross country history, she looks to become the program's fifth All-American, and first since 2005. Leah Wurm earned All-American accolades in both 2004 and 2005 after finishing top 25 both years. The Bennies' best individual finish at nationals came from Missy Petersen, who took third in 1994.
 
Saturday's race starts at 11 a.m. CST, and live video and results will be available.