For Immediate Release May 26, 2001
Smith Takes Third in 5,000 Meters
10,000 National Champ Finishes Just Three Seconds Out Of First
DECATUR, IL--Fresh off of a national championship in the 10,000 meters at the 2001 NCAA Division III outdoor track & field championships, Roanoke College’s Casey Smith (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) finished third in the 5,000 meters on Saturday afternoon. Smith (17:09.91) was just three seconds off the national championship pace of 17:06.40 which was run by Mary Proulx of Keene State (NH) University. Cortland State’s Michelle Kelly was second with a time of 17:07.88.On Thursday, Smith won the national championship in the 10,000 meters with a time of 35:05.63, the fastest national championship pace since the 1990 event. Smith, Kelly, and a runner from Swarthmore (PA) College were the only three runners to place in the top 10 in each of the two races. With her top finishes at this season’s meet, Smith earns her second consecutive outdoor track & field All-American honors. Smith’s national championship in the 10,000 meters was Roanoke College’s first of any sort since the 1978 men’s lacrosse team won the national title. Smith finished second in the 10,000 meters last season and seventh in the 5,000. She also earned All-American honors in cross country and indoor track & field this season.
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