Track starts season strong

The St. Ben’s track and field team started the 2022 indoor season on a high note, taking first place at the Cobber Open.

The meet included multiple personal records, six wins and one school record.

Head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue was very pleased with the way things went.

“We had so many performances where we saw improved times for the returners, some all-time personal bests and a school record, and then also had the first-years in a position where they were winning events.” Balder-Lanoue said.

The school record came from sophomore Fiona Smith who is coming off a cross country season where she placed fifth in the Division III national championship race.

The distance runner started her indoor season off strong as she ended her cross-country season in the fall, breaking yet another school record in the 3,000 meter.

“There were supposed to be three of us in the 3K,” Smith said, “But [the other ones] scratched, so it was just me, which made it kind of tough going into it.”

Smith mentioned her motivation dropped just a tad because of the circumstances, but she still had a goal for her time.

“It was fun being the only one because everyone in there was cheering for me so that was pretty nice,” Smith said.

Smith now holds the all-time indoor records for the mile, the 3,000 and the 5,000.

As for the rest of the season, Smith is focused on running the 3,000, and 5,000 indoors, and the 5,000 and 10,000 outdoors once the snow melts.

“I hope to make it to nationals and do well there,” Smith said.

Smith wasn’t the only one who earned a personal best as she was joined by senior Stephanie Pickthorn who won the triple jump with a mark of 10.54 meters.

Sophomore Tiana Johnson won the 200, topping her personal best by two seconds for a 27.23 finish and junior Caitlin Salfer won the pole vault at 3.13 meters, also a personal best.

Seniors Dacoda Speidel and Olivia Hoff and sophomore Elise Yeager all achieved personal records, as well. First-years Emerson Knapp and Kalli Smith started their collegiate careers with wins, in the 400 and in the 800, respectively.

Senior Tracy Renier placed second in the mile with a time of 5:28.14. Renier is excited to run for her final year and was ecstatic after the first race.

“I don’t think it could’ve gone better,” Renier said. “It was so awesome to see our new athletes and old come together to compete as one team. People sometimes see track as an individual sport, but after this first meet it was so clear that our entire team together will pack a huge punch this season. It’ll be exciting to see what we’ll be able to do when conference rolls around.”

The Bennie track and field team hosts Macalester on Saturday, Jan. 29, for their first home meet of the season.