Smith continues to make CSB and MIAC history

CSB track and field junior Fiona Smith made history by becoming the first ever NCAA national champion in CSB history with her record-breaking performance in the 5K on March 10. Smith finished seven seconds faster than the second-place finisher.

The following day, Smith took another individual title in the 3K, becoming the first person in both school and MIAC history to win two individual indoor titles at the NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field National Championships. In addition to becoming a two-time national champion and now a nine-time All-American, Smith also received the DIII’s Women’s Track Athlete of the Year accolade and was named the Women’s Most Outstanding Performer at the championships. Overall, Smith was very pleased with how her indoor season went.

“My goal for each indoor and outdoor season is to have at least one really fast race, and I feel like I did this in the 3K and the mile,” Smith said.

Smith’s favorite moment from the season was winning the 3K at nationals. After she won the 5K on the first day, she was excited but knew there was more work to be done. According to Smith, there was a lot more pressure for the 3K since it was on the second day, so when she crossed the finish line, there was an immediate relief of being done. Smith said competing on the Nationals stage was such a fun experience because the facility was amazing and running on a banked track was a new but fun experience.

“Waiting for awards, the top eight all get to talk and get to know each other, which is amazing, because they are all so nice,” Smith said.

It took a while for it to sink in that she was a two-time national champion, but when she got the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year award, that’s when it all hit.

“It meant a lot that all the coaches thought I performed well, and I was honored to be chosen out of a field of so many talented women,” Smith said.

Having her family and a few teammates be there in those moments after her race was special for her. Moving forward with lots of good competition, Smith is most looking forward to the 10K in the outdoor season. Having only ran it three times last year, she’s excited to record some faster times this season. Junior Bridget Tetmeyer, one of Smith’s close friends and teammates, traveled down to Alabama to support Smith at the National Championships. Tetmeyer said watching Smith compete at Nationals was amazing. Being there after both her races, seeing her overcome with so much joy and emotion was very rewarding.

“She is obviously driven by winning and succeeding, but her love for the sport and everything else it gives her besides winning are what really motivate her,” Tetmeyer said.

Tetmeyer admires her teammate’s selflessness and respect for her competitors, even after the races were over.

“Her immediate focus was every single other girl. She was picking girls up off the floor, she was patting every single person on the back, hugging everyone else and waited for every single other person before she came off the track and said hi to any of us. I’m so proud of her performance and how much of a genuine, humble person she is,” Tetmeyer said.

She is looking forward to running the 10K with Smith for the outdoor season and seeing how fast she will be able to run this year. Head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue was also very proud of Smith and everything she was able to accomplish at Nationals. She commented how surreal it was seeing Smith compete on the national stage and become a two-time national champion. Smith’s victories made history and impacted numerous people throughout the CSB community.

“I think about all of the students here, and I think about all of our former athletes on the team and the number of them reaching out this whole time saying how this is great for the program,” Balder-Lanoue said. “I feel like everyone feels like they are part of this championship and that everyone is part of her success, and I think that is really special for the college.”