Smith recognized as MIAC Athlete of the Week

On Sept. 4, the women of the St. Ben’s Cross Country team took to the course for the first time since November 2019.

They took first place in their home meet at Boulder Ridge against St. Cloud State University and Trinity Bible College.

The Bennies had all seven members of their varsity squad finish in the top ten places of the meet.

Fiona Smith came in first place, followed by Emily DeMorett in third, Tracy Renier in fourth, Bridget Tetmeyer in fifth, Keiley Maahs in sixth, Elise Yeager in eighth and Kalli Smith in tenth.

Smith set another school record in the 6k after running the race in 22 minutes, and 3 seconds, which bettered the previous record by four seconds that was set in 2004 by Leah Wurm. As a result, Smith was named MIAC Athlete of the Week for her success on the course.

Last weekend, on Sept. 11, Smith went on to set another program record, this time in the 5k, running 17 minutes and 48 seconds, this record was previously set in 1994 by Missy Peterson.

Smith won second place at the Luther Invitational down in Iowa, where the team placed third collectively.

“After training hard all summer and coming off a track season I was very proud of, I sort of felt like I had a lot of pressure to do well. Even though I did train hard in the off season, you never really know if it paid off and how ready you really are until you race,” Smith said.

Each summer the team trains hard to prepare for the upcoming season.

“I was lucky enough to go back home to Saudi for a little over a month, so my summer training was sort of elevated with some training in the heat—110 to 130 degree Fahrenheit temps while I ran every day,” Smith said.

“She trained hard this summer and the team trained hard this summer…When you have a lead runner who loves competing and seeing what she can do next, it spreads through to the rest of the team,” Coach Robin Balder-Lanoue said.

“I am really just looking forward to every meet that we get… I am hoping to lower my personal best time in the 6K and just take advantage of every opportunity I have to race, enjoying the real cross country experience again” Smith said.

“The MIAC is one of the most competitive Division III conferences in the country, so anytime one of our student-athletes is recognized as MIAC athlete of the week, it is something to be proud of. Fiona has an incredibly bright future both on the course and on the track. This recognition is a great way to start the year and will be one of many of our outstanding student athletes to be recognized this year for their accomplishments in their respective sports,” Athletic Director Kelly Anderson- Diercks said.

Smith went on to be named MIAC Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row after breaking the 5,000 meter record at Luther College in Decoah, Iowa.

The Bennies will return to the course again on Sept. 25 in Northfield, when they compete at Carleton against other key teams from the MIAC for the first time this season.