BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its annual All-Region Teams this week and 27 student-athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) received All-North Region recognition.
In addition to All-Region honors, Saint Benedict senior Fiona Smith was selected as the North Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year. She is the third different MIAC competitor to receive North Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year in the last three years, joining Gustavus' Birgen Nelson in 2023 and Bethel's Kelsie Sealock in 2022.
Smith (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia) set an NCAA DIII record in the 5000 meters of 15:50.48, which is nearly 15 seconds faster than any other athlete ran on a 200-meter track in NCAA DIII history. She is the top-ranked athlete nationally in that event and sits atop the chart in the 3000 meters as well. Smith scored 32.5 points at the MIAC Indoor Championships, winning the mile, 3000 meters and 5000 meters, as well as anchoring the winning distance medley relay.
A total of 27 MIAC athletes were also named All-Region. To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must be one of the top-5 individuals in their respective region on the final TFRRS Descending Order List. In addition, each member of a region's top-3 relay team was also selected for distinction.