Birthday: 07/18/91 Mile PR: 4:20.91 - 2019
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 4:02.26 - 2019
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas High School '09
Hometown: Sanford, NH
College: Georgetown University '14
Current Residence: Flagstaff, AZ
Rachel Smith (née Schneider) won the 2024 USA 15K title, running 48:26 in Jacksonville, FL.
In 2023, she finished national runner-up at the USA 5K Championships, 15:26, in New York City.
In 2021, on a hot evening at Hayward Field, Rachel finished third at the U.S. Olympic Trials 5000 meters in 15:29.56 to qualify for her first Olympic team (Tokyo). Rachel won the Camel City Elite Mile in 4:30.54 as well as the 3000 meters in 8:57.01 to pocket a cool $13,750 for the indoor double wins; she also achieved the same double at the 2018 Camel City Elite meet. In April, she won the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships hosted by the Grand Blue Mile, clocking 4:30.3 for her first national title.
On December 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, Schneider stepped up in distance and won the Track Meet 10,000 meters, clocking 31:09.79 (debut), #8 on the all-time U.S. list and also earning the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifying standard.
In 2019, Rachel won the Mile of Truth, setting a course record of 4:43, in Danville, CA, and on July 4th, she broke her course record to win the Flagstaff Downtown Mile in 4:46 (altitude). At the Herculis meet's Brave Like Gabe Mile, Schneider set her personal record, clocking 4:20.91 (#5 U.S. all-time outdoors) to finish 9th overall in the race where the women's world record was broken by Sifan Hassan (NED) in 4:12.33. In late July at the USA 5000m Outdoor Championships, Rachel qualified for her first Team USA berth at the World Championships in Doha.
At the 2018 Camel City Elite Mile, she defended her crown in 4:31.74 indoors, and in June, was runner-up in the USA 5000m Championship, her best finish on the national stage. At the Athletics World Cup in London, she won the 1500m silver medal in 4:08.04, and later in August, Rachel won the Aetna Falmouth Mile, running 4:27.23, a then outdoor track PR.
In 2017, Schneider won Camel City Elite Mile, clocking 4:28.03 indoors to set a then personal record that she broke the following week at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational indoor meet, running 4:25.62.
On February 28, 2016, Schneider joined the Sub-4:30 Club at the BU Last Chance Meet in Boston, recording a 4:28.50. In August 2015, she won the inaugural Boxcar Mile in 4:31.04, a stadium record, and also in 2015, the Georgetown grad placed third at the USA Indoor National Championships in the Mile with a then personal record of 4:30.62 and fifth at the USA 1500m Outdoor Championships.
While at Georgetown she was an five-time All-American including three finals in the 1500 meters.
FUN FACT: In September 2021, Rachel married Mike Smith, her coach and Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Northern Arizona University. On April 19, 2023, the pair welcomed baby girl Nova Katherine Smith and a second daughter, Harper Moon, on April 9, 2025.
Past national champions Ciattei, Lipari, Smith headline in the title and $25,000 prize money chase in downtown Des Moines on World Record Way
From Drake Relays
DES MOINES, Iowa – The USA Track & Field 1 Mile Road Championships, hosted as part of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue...
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First time national titlists pocket $3000 each in Des Moines; $15,000 overall awarded to the top 10
From Drake Relays
DES MOINES, Iowa — In exciting races, rising stars Eric Avila and Rachel Schneider captured the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships presented by Toyota Wednesday night on the...
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Flagstaff-based training group, led by Rachel Schneider, features ten middle and long-distance runners
From Under Armour
Under Armour introduces its new professional running team, Dark Sky Distance, based in Flagstaff, Arizona. This group of best-in-class athletes consists of middle and long...
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“One of America’s most iconic races” in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday evening, Aug. 9, $23,000 Open purse; BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019 third stop
From P3R
PITTSBURGH – The Fleet Feet Liberty Mile, downtown Pittsburgh’s only evening road race, returns on Friday, August 9. Named “one of America’s...
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Three other national records and numerous personal records set at inaugural Brave Like Gabe Mile
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF
MONACO - Sifan Hassan, who arrived on the Stade Louis II track tonight as the third fastest female Miler of all-time, departed the Herculis EBS Diamond League meet as...
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Schneider sets course record, Casey defends, record participant turnout at annual 4th of July community event
By Mike Hartman, Arizona Daily Sun Sports Editor
After winning the Flagstaff Downtown Mile for a second straight year, one thing still stands out about the race for Pat Casey.
The...
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Connolly, Mariano victorious in Tommy Cochary High School Mile; $16,000 awarded in Open race
From Falmouth Road Race
FALMOUTH, Mass. – Three close finishes and a dominant victory by a local favorite highlighted the Aetna Falmouth Elite Mile and its companion Tommy Cochary High School Mile,...
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Deep international fields also includes Olympians, past men's event champions and rising stars; $15,000 guaranteed prize purse
From Falmouth Road Race
FALMOUTH, Mass. - Defending men's champion Craig Engels and Rachel Schneider, fresh off a gold medal performance, headline the fields for the...
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5th Camel City Elite indoor meet yields fast times and awards more than $40,000 in prize money and bonuses
From JDL Fast Track
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The 5th Camel City Elite at the JDL Fast Track indoor facility on Saturday afternoon saw some outstanding performances led by 2016 Olympic 5000...
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Sam Penzenstadler to defend men’s title in nation’s capital; $15,000 Open prize purse; six athletes also vying for Tour grand prix prize money; Heather Kampf eyes Tour three-peat; Running Warehouse "Pick-the-Winner" contest
By Bring Back the Mile
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Navy Mile on...
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Bolas & Schneider to defend race titles; the second edition and third stop on the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2016 also offers $15,000 in Open prize money
Runners of all ability levels will converge on Henderson High School Thursday night, August 11 for the ServiceNow West Chester Mile, a celebration...
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Bolas, Schneider to defend titles; third stop on Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2016 features $15,000 prize purse
From ServiceNow West Chester Mile
As someone who gets to see all of the work & effort put in by everyone at our store to get our events together, there’s been something about...
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"I obviously really respect my opponents but … now know I can compete with them.”
By Steve Craig, Portland Press Herald
Sanford native Rachel Schneider’s career is on the rise and she has sights on an Olympic berth in the 1500 meters.
In a year, Rachel Schneider took her professional...
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Rising star, a NACAC gold medalist, Georgetown alumna and inaugural Boxcar Mile champion, enters Michigan Mile in Flint, MI as an event favorite
By Bring Back the Mile
2015 has been quite the year for Hoya, Rachel Schneider, kicking off the season with a bronze medal at the USA Indoor...
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