Posted: March 13, 2004

Athletics: Kim Smith Sets NCAA 5000M Record

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

University of Providence senior Kim Smith smashed the NCAA record when she won the 5000m yesterday at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Smith, a citizen of New Zealand, won by over half a minute in 15:14.18, easily surpassing Sara Gorton's 2003 meet record of 15:39.25 and also going under Sonia O'Sullivan's NCAA record of 15:17.28 set back in 1991. Stanford sophomore Alicia Craig was second in 15:45.08, and Notre Dame sophomore Molly Huddle was third in 15:58.42.

Smith's time was also a New Zealand national indoor record, surpassing the 15:18.54 she had run at the Boston University Invitational on January 30. She also won the Big East 3000m title on 22-Feb in a national indoor record 8:55.88.

In the men's 5000m final Arkansas senior Alistair Cragg of Ireland won in 13:39.53 ahead of Stanford Junior Ian Dobson (13:40.91).

The meet concludes today.

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