BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Making history and setting a high standard is the way of junior standout
of the College of Saint Benedict Track and Field Team. On Saturday at the Birmingham Crossplex, she won her second individual national title in two days by recording a 3,000-meter championship record of 9:25.62 in a dominating performance at the NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championship.
As a result, she has become the first in school and MIAC history to win two individual indoor titles in the same NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championship. Not only did she set a high standard individually, but Smith also helped CSB record its best team finish ever at the DIII Indoor Nationals with 20 points for 11th. That team finish was the best among all MIAC schools.
Smith, who is now a nine-time All-American in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, finished with a winning time of 9:25.62, shattering the previous championship meet record of 9:30.80 set by Amy Regan of Stevens in 2016. Her time was just under five seconds faster than the second-place finisher, University of Chicago junior Maddie Kelly, who recorded a time of 9:30.34.
On Saturday afternoon, she grabbed the lead early, opening the 3K with a 74 second 400 meters. At the 800-meter mark, she clocked a 2:28.73 and was at 4:58.33 at 1,600 meters. At 2,000 meters, Smith was clocked at 6:14.37, finishing the final 1,000 meters in 3:11.24.
Fiona Smith celebrates with family and friends.
"I feel good," said Smith with a smile Saturday. "I'm very glad to be done, very relieved that it's over. It was all so fun. They were two very fun races. But the 3K was even more enjoyable. I also enjoy that (event) more. Overall, I'm just so relieved and happy and grateful," said Smith, who owns MIAC and Saint Ben's school records in both the 3K and 5K. In fact, in her career she now has 15 school, conference or DIII records.
Smith is a leader in more than performance. She is grateful for all the support she has received and hopes her example may serve as an inspiration to future Bennie student-athletes.
"A lot of messages I've been getting over the past day have been congratulating me but also saying they hope I'm paving the way for the Bennies in the future. So, hopefully that means something to Bennies and helps," added Smith.
CSB Head Track and Field Coach Robin Balder-Lanoune was pleased with the junior's history-making accomplishment this weekend. And, she knows how hard Smith has worked which has inspired confidence in the way she competes.
"She executed beautifully," said
Robin Balder-Lanoue, a 1991 Saint Ben's graduate, her head coach in both cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. "She ran her race right from the start. It's a gutsy way to do it. But she's confident and running great right now."
Balder-Lanoue also understands the importance of what Smith accomplished this weekend. And, she, too, is grateful.
"I think it means everything. One of the really cool things that has happened this weekend is the number of texts I've been getting from alums. Everybody who has been part of our former success all feel like they're a part of her success," said Balder-Lanoue. "I think that's something really, really special. I think the whole alum base, and our entire campus, feels like they're part of something pretty amazing."
Fiona Smith won the 3K by over four seconds.
Smith rewrote history books at Saint Ben's, MIAC and DIII with her memorable performance on Saturday afternoon (March 11) in the 3K, which comes nearly 24 hours after she dominated and won the 5,000-meter title in 16:33.79 on Friday (March 10). And, on top of the two individual titles, she has finished first or second in her last three DIII championship races after finishing national runner-up at the 2022 DIII Cross Country Championships.
In the MIAC, St. Thomas' Emily Gapinski won the mile and DMR in 2016 (indoor) and St. Thomas's Kelly Copps won the 5K and 10K outdoors in 1994, but Smith is the first MIAC student-athlete who has won two individual indoor titles (3K, 5K) in league history.
A junior mathematics major from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Smith earned two All-American honors in back-to-back indoor championship years for another first at CSB. In fact, her dominating effort (16:33.79) in capturing the 5,000-meter title on Friday, March 10 made her the first in school history to win a national title. And, now she has added a second national crown in one of the most impressive athletic performances in school history and in the MIAC.
Named the MIAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year for a second straight year after winning the 5K and 3K at the conference championship, Smith was almost seven seconds faster than the second-place finisher, Williams junior Genna Girard, who finished with a time of 16:40.21 in that 5K.
In her career, Smith has never finished lower than fifth in any race and at the DIII meet recorded the 43rd title of her career in cross country and track and field.
A year ago, Smith became the first CSB student-athlete to earn two All-American honors in the same indoor DIII Championship. She repeated that accomplishment in 2023. Smith, who has nine All-Region honors, has four indoor All-American honors and CSB has 11 after Smith's double this weekend. In fact, she has seven total track and field All-American honors with two 5K (2021, 2022) and a 10K outdoors (2022). In addition, this fall, she was the MIAC Elite 22 winner in cross country and a Wooden Citizenship Cup Award finalist – the only MIAC student-athlete to make the finalist stage of the award.
