MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Fiona Smith and Lauren Berg broke records with All-MIAC performances to lead another stellar performance by the No. 20 College of Saint Benedict Indoor Track and Field Team, which finished fifth at the MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships which concluded Sunday at Macalester College.

With Smith's second title and runner-up finish by Berg plus scoring from two other individuals and three relays, CSB finished fifth with 99 points. The Bennies were just a half-point from fourth place St. Olaf at 99.5. Bethel won the team crown with 144 points while Carleton was second at 140.5 and followed by Gustavus at 114.

In total CSB won three individual or relay titles, recorded 10 individual or relay All-MIAC performances (top 3), broke four school, league or fieldhouse records and had nine program top-10 marks with 17 top-eight performances. CSB had its second straight top five finish but bettered the final totals with 99 points, opposed to 94 a year ago. The 10 All-MIAC performances is the highest total at an indoor championship by CSB in its MIAC history. It is the most since eight in 2016 and brings the total All-MIAC honors to 112 in school history.

"I am so proud of this team," said CSB veteran Head Coach Robin Balder-Lanoue. "They outdid their seeds by at least 26 points. Our team competed hard all three days and put themselves in the mix," she said. 

For the second straight day, Smith, a seven time All-American in track and field and cross country, repeated as a champion by winning the 3,000-meters in 9:32.06. While the mark is just off her season-best (9:23.31, Minnesota State Massive Meet, Feb. 10, 2023), she repeated in the 3K with her second individual and third overall (DMR relay) title at the championships. In the 3K she broke the fieldhouse and the 36-year-old conference mark of 9:46.75 by Julia Kirtland in 1987. On Friday, Smith broke the championship record in repeating in the 5,000-meters with a clocking of 16:49.69.

Berg recorded her third individual All-MIAC performance (8th overall for CSB) at the championships by finishing second in the 600M in a school record 1:36.28. She broke a 14-year-old CSB record held by Jillian Daleiden, 1:37.86, in 2009. Also on Sunday, she was part of the 4x400-meter relay which finished third in 4:09.26. Aside from Berg, that relay team included Sidela Nyuga, Emerson Knapp and Mirijana Ganley. Berg, who was part of four All-MIAC performances, also finished second in the 60M hurdles, third in the 400M and second in the 600M with one school record and three program top 10 marks.

CSB also had points in the high jump, 4x200 meter relay and the 1000 meters on Sunday. In the high jump Justus Floren finished fourth by going 1.52m – 4-11.75. In the 1000-meters, sophomore Kalli Smith recorded team points in her second individual event of the championship by placing seventh in the 1,000-meters in 3:12.19. CSB's 4x200-meter relay was fifth in 1:48.84 with a team of Lauren Berg, Hailey Johnson, Myah Nelson and Tiana Johnson along with the 4-x400 meter relay which was third.

All-MIAC Performers
5,000-meters – Fiona Smith, 1^st, 16:49.69, MIAC Championship record
3,000-meters – Fiona Smith, 1^st, 9:32.06, MIAC Championship record/Fieldhouse record, 12:20.18
Distance Medley Relay – 1^st, Elise Yeager, Emerson Knapp, Keiley Maahs, Fiona Smith
Pentathlon – Justus Floren, 2^nd, 3,097 points, 7^th all-time at CSB
60-meter hurdles – Lauren Berg, 2^nd, 9.22, third all-time at CSB
400-meters – Lauren Berg, 3^rd, 59.24, fourth all-time at CSB
600-meters – Lauren Berg, 2^nd, 1:36.28, broke CSB school record
Pole Vault – Caitlin Salfer, 3^rd, 3.20 meters - 10-06, 10^th all-time at CSB
Weight Throw – Maggie Beckmann, 3^rd, 15.20 meters – 49-10.5
4x400-meter relay – 3^rd, 4:09.26, Sidela Nyuga, Emerson Knapp, Mirijana Ganley, Lauren Berg

Other results - Sunday
Shot Put – Haley Joos, 12^th, 11.00m – 36-01.25; Maggie Beckmann, 18^th, 10.10m – 33-01.75
Long Jump – Justus Floren, 11^th, 4.91m – 16-01.50; Elizabeth Selisker, 13^th, 4.88m – 16-00.25
High Jump – Elizabeth Selisker, 9^th, 1.49m – 4-11.75
1000-meters – Keiley Maahs, 9^th, 3:12.99; Natalie Zielsdorf, 17^th, 3:17.10; Brooke Verkinnes, 18^th, 3:18.00w