Smith and Young compete at Nationals

A pair of cross-country runners for CSB/SJU competed in the Division III Championships on Nov. 20.

For the Bennies, sophomore Fiona Smith continued her dominance, finishing fifth of 293 racers.

This secured Smith’s streak of finishing top five.

Smith finished in the top five in every race this season and won five of her eight races. She also earned All-American status. Smith’s goal was to finish top-five and to do this, she knew she had to start fast.

“My plan was to start out with the leader,” Smith said. “She started out fast and I tried to hang with her for as long as I could,” Smith said.

Halfway through the race, Smith was in third place, running the first three kilometers at a 10:13 clip. By the end of the race, she had fallen to fifth place. She finished the race in 20:58 seconds, coming within two seconds of breaking her own school record that she set a week earlier at regionals.

For the Johnnies, sophomore Lloyd Young finished 52nd of 294 racers.

Young stresses the importance of patience when he races and only caring about where he finishes.

The fast start was a challenge for Young.

“I started towards the back of the pack, and it still felt like we were going pretty fast,” Young said.

Through the first kilometer, Young was in 250th place. By the end, Young vaulted himself into the top 20% of all runners.

Both runners will benefit from national races later in their careers.

“Racing in nationals will really help me going forward,” Smith said.

Young felt the same way.

“My preparation throughout the year and gaining national experience is something that will help me going into next season,” Young said.