ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Every year offers new opportunities, says College of Saint Benedict cross country head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue.

It will be no different in 2024. Yet, this year unlike each of the previous four, the CSB cross country team will move forward without national champion and All-American Fiona Smith, who has graduated.

Still, the Bennies are focused and determined. With an extraordinary high level of energy and passion striving for the top of the MIAC is the goal.

"Every team is different. No matter who you have returning, you never know what is going to happen during the season," said Balder-Lanoue, whose team placed third (88 points) at the MIAC Championships and sixth at the NCAA Regionals (231 points) a year ago.

"We have several returning people that have been in the top seven at some point and I think that makes a huge difference because they've had that experience. They know what it's like to have to step up for the team," said Balder-Lanoue at a press conference as part of the CSB Media Day. "And from what I've seen so far, we have an amazing pack out there and it really comes down to seeing who's going to break that pack and lead that pack. But I think it is going to be a fun season," she said.

Graduate student Lucy Lyngen, who placed 36^th with a clocking of 23:42.8 a year ago, is part of that CSB pack, and excited about the season starting, beginning with the Toni St. Pierre Invite on Friday at Boulder Ridge Golf Course in St. Cloud on Friday. Lyngen and her teammates will compete against Augsburg, Bethel, Northwestern, SCSU (W), UW- Superior, UW-Stout, St. Benedict, Saint John's with the women's 5K race starting at 6 p.m.

  "I feel like success for this team is sticking together," said Lyngen. "We don't have a Fiona (Smith) you know, so we've got to stick as a pack to push each other. And I think, if we do that this season, we're going to have some really great results," she said.

 

Junior Mary Kenney, who was honorable mention All-MIAC in 2022 and placed 26^th in 2023 in 23:26.7, surpassing her 2022 mark at the championship by 46 seconds, also stressed the importance of team as key to the Bennies finding success.

 "You know, even if you're struggling and you want to give up, you're like I can think about okay, all my teammates are on the course pushing; doing their best, so I am going to go my best for them," Kenney said.

Senior Kalli Smith, who finished 30^th at the MIAC in 2022 and 62^nd in 2023 with similar clockings of 24:42.8 and 24:42.9, noted that the team has a lot of experience returning, which will help the team run with confidence and spirit.

"We still have this large group of us who are returning. So I think going into the season, we are thinking about the top three. We have some really big competitors in conference, going for third again or even second or first, for sure is a fabulous, realistic expectation for us."

In 2023 the Bennies had five runners place in the top 28, including two in the top 13.  

Fiona Smith captured her third straight MIAC championship, won the regional title for a third straight year and captured the program's first-ever NCAA DIII individual title to highlight the 2023 cross country season. Annie Kiolbasa also earned All-MIAC, advanced to regionals and to the NCAA DIII Championships with Smith. Keiley Maahs was honorable mention All-MIAC.

As the attention shifts to 2024, CSB will have a group of talented performers returning. Among them will be sophomore Julia Babineau, who was 39^th in 23:59.7 in her first MIAC Championship race. Others returning and their finish at the 2023 MIAC meet, included junior Eva Creighton, 42^nd, 24:13.9; sophomore Anabella Witschen, 66^th, 24:47.8; senior junior Ava Juntunen-Novak, 82^nd, 25:25.9; sophomore Taylor Radaich, 86^th, 25:30.3; senior Emily Tess, 87^th, 25:31.3; sophomore Abby Bufkin, 90^th, 25:38.4; junior Natalie Zielsdorf, 97^th, 25:49.8; junior Tatum Leibke, 100^th, 25:51.2; junior Brooke Verkinnes, 117^th, 26:30.3; junior Meaghan McDonald, 120^th, 26:36.3; senior Maranda Thier, 131^st, 26:52.1; junior Hailley Thompson, 135^th, 27:01.7; junior Isabel Kraabel, 137^th, 27:03.1; senior Ayva Burshem, 138^th, 27:08.8; junior Marin Kaster, 148^th, 27:56.9; and sophomore Emily Koch, 161^st, 29:08.9. In addition, CSB has several talented incoming first-year performers.