September 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shannon Houlihan
(724)288-6347

Smith Competes in Purple Valley Classic

Williamstown, MA: The Pioneers travelled to Williams College to compete in the Purple Valley Classic against some of the top cross country teams in Division III. Smith finished in 8th place out of 12 teams with 232 points.

Johns Hopkins won the women's 6k race with 29 points, followed by Williams (55 points) and Middlebury, the defending NCAA champions, in 3rd place (69 points).  Smith's total of 232 points was just 9 points behind conference foe Springfield who finished in 7th place. 

The Poineers were led by senior Christine Dzialo (Belchertown, MA) and sophomore Emma Yourd (Pittsburgh, PA).  Dzialo, competing for the first time this season, finished in 40th place with a time of 24:18.  Emma Yourd was just behind Dzialo, finishing in 49th place.  Her time of 24:35 dropped an amazing 49 seconds off the time she ran on the same course at last year's New England regional meet.  Freshmen Shannon MacKenzie (Hopkinton, NH) and Raquel Lemire (Portland, OR) raced well in their first 6k, as MacKenzie finished in 74th place (25:14) and Lemire finished in 88th place (25:45).  Sophomore Kristin Peck (Glenmont, NY) rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers, crossing the line in 99th place (26:18).  Oberlin's Johanna Johnson was the top overall finisher, crossing the line in 22:12. 

Smith ran well against a deep field, as Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, and Williams are all nationally ranked.  With several Pioneers taking the week off to rest, Smith's five runners stepped up and combined for a strong team effort.  The Pioneers are next in action on October 10 at the Open New England Championship, held at Franklin Park in Boston at 12 pm.