Fiona Smith, a senior from the College of Saint Benedict, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Cross Country as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
Smith is designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 48th year.
“I am grateful to be recognized as a finalist for this award that encompasses my athletic accomplishments but also what I work hard to do off the course,” said Smith. “My coach, teammates, family, and my whole support system make it possible for me to keep the balance in my life that I need to achieve things such as this recognition and I have them to thank for being where I am! One of the things I love most about being a DIII student-athlete is my ability and support available to have a balance with academics and with community involvement that span far beyond my athletic accomplishments, and knowing how many other talented people there are in DIII in so many aspects, it means a lot to be recognized for this.”
Smith, hailing from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, captured the 2023 NCAA DIII National Cross Country individual title with a record-setting performance and became the first female athlete in NCAA DIII history with a sub-20-minute mark at the NCAA Championships.
During the regular season, Smith was undefeated in seven races setting a course record at every meet, including the record-setting performance at the DII Championship, and broke the school record three times.
Smith captured the MIAC individual title for the third straight year and is the first runner in school history to win three consecutive MIAC Athlete of the Year honors. Smith capped her season being named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) DIII Women’s Athlete of the Year and recently earned her fourth USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honor across cross country and track & field.
“It is easy to look at Fiona and say, ‘Wow, what a great runner!’ More so, it is easy to look at her grades and say, ‘Wow, she’s a 4.0 Mathematics Major!’ but none of this compares to the amazing human she is every single day,” stated head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue. “She is an impactful leader who handles stress with grace and her teammates with care. She makes the most of the day-to-day moments and the little things that all lead to the big moments.”
All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24th, 2024, at 7 PM ET, from its new home in New York City.
The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.
The CWSA, entering its 48th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.