NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Smith College heads to St. Lawrence University (Canton, N.Y.) on Saturday, Nov. 15 for the NCAA DIII Mideast Regional on the Ronald C. Hoffmann Championship Cross Country Course. It's the moment the Bears have trained toward all fall—compact packs, bold mid-race moves, and calm finishes when it counts.
"The team has put in an incredible amount of work and dedication throughout this season, and are ready to make the final push through Regionals and Nationals." — Director of Cross-Country & Track and Field Jack Wood had to say when previewing the race.Â
Bears at a Glance
Smith enters regionals on the heels of a 4th-place finish at NEWMAC (141 pts), led by Lucy Kreipke (Princeton, NJ/Princeton)'s 13th overall to earn All-Conference (22:53.1). First-year Avery Grace Maiese (Waterford, CT/Waterford High School) (28th, 23:54.1) and Sofia Jurusz (Wildwood Crest, NJ/Middle Township) (31st, 24:14.1) rounded out a poised front three, with seniors Hillary Connor (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) (48th, 24:51.6) and Lyda Martin (San Antonio, TX/Lee) (53rd, 24:57.5) closing the scoring. That group produced a ~2:04 1–5 spread, the kind of compression that plays at regionals.Â
Across the fall, the Bears mixed it against deep fields—5th/13 at Wesleyan, 39th at Paul Short, 32nd at the Conn College Invite—then sharpened for conference. The regional test now suits Smith's identity: steady pack running, patient moves after midpoint, and veteran composure in the final kilometer.
Race Day & Stakes
The regional champion earns an automatic NCAA berth; additional at-large teams and top individuals not on qualifying teams are selected nationally. The NCAA Championships are Nov. 22.
Course Snapshot
A true on-campus championship layout—natural footing with rolling rhythm sections and long straights that reward patience, positioning, and a strong close. Expect early crowding, room to move in the middle, and decisive decisions over the last mile.
How to Follow
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram
