Smith and Young compete at NCAA national meet

Two CSB+SJU cross country athletes excelled at the NCAA Division III cross country championships.

Despite the snow and ice, both athletes performed well and earned a myriad of honors. Junior Fiona Smith, reigning champion of the MIAC, placed second overall in the women’s division 6K with a time of 21:49.6, earning All-American honors. Senior Lloyd Young finished the 8K with a time of 25:37, earning a spot in 40th and All-American honors, as well. The national meet for NCAA Division III is set up and executed the same as other cross country meets. The difference from the two is the density of both talent and competitors on the course.

“Heading into nationals, I was really just super excited to have the opportunity to race there again this year and was hoping to place better than I have at any previous national meet I’ve competed in,” Smith said.

Smith has been in close competition with Loras College’s Kassie Parker for a majority of the season.

“I decided to just focus on placing as high as possible, knowing that Parker was likely going to beat the rest of the field by a good margin… I wanted to do my best to beat as many girls that I could in the chase pack,” Smith said.

Young’s goal was also trying to beat as many people as possible.

“Going into the national meet, I was confident that I would put everything I had into the race. I wouldn’t say I wanted to beat anyone specifically, especially because at the national meet, anything can happen. I just wanted to beat as many people as I could,” Young said.

Members of the CSB and SJU cross country teams made the long trek to East Lansing, Mich., to cheer on their teammates.

“We had a wonderful and supportive group of about 21 Bennies and Johnnies who showed up to support Fiona and Lloyd… Our crew really put everything we had into cheering,” senior Riley Berg said.

Both competitors and spectators braved the ice, snow and low temperatures. Berg noted that there is something unique about cross country spectating, with sprinting with competitors and wading through the large crowds.

“Hearing the cheering through the race, whether it’s my own fans or other random fans, is a really unique and incredible experience about cross country nationals, and specifically DIII,” Smith said.

Both Young and Smith expressed the goals that they had accomplished during the season.

“I couldn’t be happier with how I raced in terms of place at MIAC and regionals and nationals,” Smith said.

Young agreed.

“I certainly accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, and I look forward to more,” Young said.

With the 2022 cross country season coming to a close, Smith and Young look forward to a few weeks of rest before starting the winter season for track and field.

“I am excited to see what kinds of times I can run this year in my events, and, as always, I’m looking forward to the next meet ahead of me,” Smith said.