Nov. 21, 2004

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Providence College senior cross country runner Kim Smith (Auckland, New Zealand) was named NCAA Northeast Regional Athlete of the Year on Saturday, November 20 at the NCAA Cross Country Championship Banquet on the campus of Indiana State University. It marks the second consecutive season that Smith has earned this honor.

Smith has won all four races in which she has competed in this season, including the most recent race at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship on November 13 at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y. Smith's finish helped the second-ranked Providence team qualify for the NCAA's for the 16th-consecutive season. In addition, Smith also has won the BIG EAST Championship, the Penn State Invitational and the Roy Griak Invitational.

Providence will compete at the NCAA's on Monday, November 22 at 11:00 a.m. in Terre Haute, Ind. Smith will be one of the favorites to win the individual title after finishing second in 2003.