Villanova Univeristy Athletics

 

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Has represented Canada at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Denmark and the Pan American U20 Championships in Costa Rica … Gold medalist in the 1500 meters at the Pan American meet in the summer prior to arriving at Villanova … Earned one of two qualifying spots on the national team by finishing as the runner-up in the 1500 meters at the Canadian U20 Championships in Montreal … At that meet led the field of competitors with a time of 4:37.48 in the preliminary heats before coming in second in the final in 4:24.18 … Won the Pan American gold medal with a winning time of 4:25.47 in a race where she went wire-to-wire with the lead … Held off rising sophomores from Illinois State and Yale to secure the win … During her final year of high school was a bronze medalist in the U20 race at the Canadian National Cross Country Championships with a time of 20:53.4 over 6000 meters … Came in 66^th in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships.
 

BEFORE VILLANOVA

Club Track: Ran for Halifast Athletics, one of the top track & field club teams in Nova Scotia … Set provincial records at distances of 800 meters, 1500 meters and 3000 meters … National champion in the 1500 meters and the 3000 meters at the Royal Canadian Legion Youth Championships.
 
Sacred Heart School of Halifax: Was the champion of the 1500 meters with a personal best time of 4:21.94 at the 2019 outdoor Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) Championships … Went on to compete at the Canadian U20 Championships following the NSSAF meet … Broke five NSSAF records during her career, including the 1500 meters and the 3000 meters at both the intermediate and senior girls levels … Also set the senior girls record in the 800 meters … Four-time MVP of the track team and three-time team MVP in cross country … Named her school’s Senior High Athlete of the Year three straight years from 2017-19 … In addition to competing for the cross country and track & field teams, was also a point guard on the basketball team … Achieved Honors status academically all four years of high school.
 
Personal: Born 7/1/01 in Nova Scotia, Canada … Younger of two children of Chris Smith and Lydia Bugden … Has an older brother, William … Brother was a collegiate swimmer at Seton Hall who competed in the distance events … Hobbies include cooking and baking, along with participating in other sports such as swimming, basketball and tennis … Chose to attend Villanova for her comfort level with the team and coaching staff, as well as for the program’s success in developing middle distance runners … Pursuing her MBA in the Villanova School of Business.