VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Senior
Fiona Smith of the No. 14 College of Saint Benedict indoor track and field team had a championship-winning response in capturing a program-first, fourth national individual title and repeating as the 5,000-meter champion at the NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championship on Friday afternoon at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
CSB HC Robin Balder-Lanoue and 5K champion Fiona Smith.
Kelly Anderson Diercks, CSB Athletics
Smith, a senior mathematics major and now 13-time All-American, finished in 16:26.40. But Smith, who led for nearly the entire race, responded to a challenge from runner-up Grace Richardson of New York University, who passed her on the final stretch of the final 200-meter lap of 25. Smith, who finished seven seconds faster than the second-place finisher a year ago, immediately responded by retaking the lead in the final 25-meters.
"Fiona's finish was all heart," said CSB head coach
Robin Balder-Lanoue. "She was able to reach deep and find that amazing kick to respond," she said. "I'm incredibly proud of her race. Every season is a new season. It's always about going out and doing your best. Every race is a different experience," said Balder-Lanoue.
"I'm really proud of her for the way she finished this race and … (she's a) national champ," said Balder-Lanoue of Smith, who is the 28th all-time MIAC indoor individual national champion.
Smith, who is the first MIAC repeat national champion in the indoor 5K since Kelly Copps of St. Thomas in 1994 and 1995, opened with at 2:31.0 in the 800-meters as she raced to a large lead. At the 1,000-meter mark, Smith clocked 3:08.87 and was seven seconds in the lead. At the 3K mark, she had a 9:41.58 and led by nearly 10 seconds. She was clocked at 13:03.95 at 4K and 15:47.73 at 4,800 meters. She finished in 16:26.40 as she fought off Richardson, who had a late rush to finish in 16:26.75 in one of the closest 5K finishes in DIII history.
"It feels good," Smith said following her race. "The indoor 5K is one of the toughest races. The outdoor 5K I find to be a lot easier, especially mentally. So getting this one out of the way and (winning) a title here is really special. Especially, because of all the support I had, which was really nice. I'm really grateful."
Smith repeated the 5K title she won a year ago at 16:33.78 at the DIII Championship a year ago. Then, in 2023, Smith added the 3,000-meter time of 9:25.62, which shattered the previous championship record. And, she will go into that race at 5:40 p.m., (EST) on Saturday (March 9) with the top time in DIII and the fourth fastest ever in the division at 9:23.40. Smith's 5K time today was over seven seconds quicker than a year ago. Earlier this year, Smith set the DIII all-time 5K record with a 15:50.48 clocking in Boston, Mass., in December.
After being named the USTFCCCA North Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the three-time MIAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, Smith earned her fourth title and bettered a field of 17 student-athletes. Named the 2023 USTFCCCA Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, Smith was honored on March 5 as an all-region performer for the fourth straight year after being recognized in the mile, 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters during the 2023-24 season. In 2021, she was honored in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs and in both 2022 and 2023 earned the designation in the mile, 3,000- and 5,000-meters events. Smith now has 12 all-region honors indoors.
