Bates College

Bates women's track and field senior captain Jillian Richardson smashed the program record in the 3,000-meter run, finishing ninth out of 20 competitors with her time of 9:37.73 Saturday evening at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 

Richardson (Auburn, Maine) surpassed All-American Jessica Wilson '17 for No. 1 on the Bates all-time performance list in the event. Wilson ran the 3K in a then-school record 9:43.31 in 2017. 

St. Benedict's Fiona Smith won the national title Saturday in the 3K, racing to the finish in 9:25.62. Ninth place is one spot below All-America honors and Richardson finished just behind Williams College's Ella Ball, who took eighth in 9:36.26.

Saturday's race caps off a terrific indoor season for Richardson, the New England Champion in the 3K and the USTFCCCA East Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year. Now, the two-time cross country All-American turns her attention to the outdoor season, which begins Saturday, April 1 when the Bobcats host the Bates Quad Meet.