Boston College
NCAA Championships
Smith Wins Track National Championship
March 10, 2001 | Women's Track & Field
March 10, 2001
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Selected members of the Boston College women's track and field team competed at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10. Fifth year senior Shannon Smith became the first ever women's national champion at Boston College, winning the 3,000-meter and setting a school record.
Running a 9:11.25, the fastest time in the nation, Smith won the 3,000-meter. The record of 9:20.59 was held by All-American Angie Graham and set in 1997.
"I am very excited," said Smith. "It was all that I hoped for.... It was really rewarding to have my best race today since I worked really hard all season. I thought I could win the (national) title and it all came together today."
"Shannon ran a brilliant race. With three labs to go she broke away from the competition. She broke a school record by over nine seconds and won a national championship. I am very happy for her," says head coach Randy Thomas.
Also running the 3,000-meter race, junior Katie Ryan (Elmira, N.Y.) ran a 9:29.12 and a 11th place finish.
In the first day of competition, sophomore Maggie Guiney (Middletown, N.J.) was the only individual athlete to compete for Boston College. She took 13th place in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:46.43.
The Eagles also competed in the distance relay event. Boston College took ninth place with a time of 11:31.95, out of 12 competing teams.
The Boston College women's track and field team will open their outdoor season on Saturday, March 31 at the Snowflake Classic at Tufts in Medford, Mass. Selected members of the team will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to participate in the prestigious Raleigh Relays on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31.
