Evan Hassman moved into third in CMS history in the steeplechase
Evan Hassman moved into third in CMS history in the steeplechase

Evan Hassman Moves Into Third in CMS History in Steeplechase at Occidental Invitational

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's track and field team competed at the Occidental Invitational on Saturday as it winds down the final week of the regular season, and sophomore Evan Hassman continued to chop seconds off his PR in the steeplechase with a 9:08.60 to move into third all-time at CMS. 

The Stags already captured the 2019 SCIAC Championship on April 27-28, and have one more week remaining to try to earn qualifying marks for the NCAA Division III Championships in Geneva, Ohio from May 23-25. 

Hassman improved by another 3.48 seconds in the steeplechase, following a second-place finish at SCIACs in what was a personal-best 9:12.08. He now stands in third place in CMS history in the event, as he is closing in on the school mark of 9:05.15 set by Bennett Naden in 2013 (although second place is current junior Thomas D'Anieri in 9:06.64 from 2018, who still has a year left to try to set the new record as well).  

In addition to moving up the CMS record books, Hassman also moves up the ladder in the NCAA Division III rankings this season, improving his chances for national qualification. He came into the day ranked 18th nationally for his time at SCIACs, and moved up seven more spots (pending other results around the country) into 11th with his 9:08.60. He also came in 12th at the Occidental Invitational out of 41 competitors, finishing just behind freshman Munir Kabbara of UCLA and ahead of two runners from BYU in 14th and 15th place. 

On Friday, the CMS 4x100 relay team broke a school record at the Azusa Pacific Twilight meet with a 41.18, which ties them for sixth nationally (16 qualify for the NCAA Championships). The same quartet of Matthew Guillory, Carter Henderson, Jamie Cockburn and Corbin Bethurem ran it again at Occidental, and produced another strong time of 41.77 to place fourth while remaining in strong shape to qualify for nationals with their 41.18.  

Sophomore Ross Rainaldi was also in action this weekend competing in the decathlon at the Claremont Classic Multis on Thursday and Friday, finsihing third out of six competitors with 5388 points. He earned his highest point total in the 110-meter hurdle with a 16.38 for 691 points, while also breaking 600 points in both the 100 (12.06, good for 639 points), the high jump (1.81 meters, good for 636) and the 400 (54.93, good for 602). His javelin throw of 50.14 meters was the best in the field by over six meters, giving him 591 points, while his high jump also topped all competitors at the Claremont Classic by .09 meters. 

CMS will be back in action next weekend at the Redlands Last Chance Qualifier as several Stags will try to take advantage of the final opportunity earn their way to Ohio.