CMS Women's Track and Field Begins Defense of SCIAC Title at Westmont Indoor Meet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A year after cruising to the SCIAC title and finishing in fourth place at the NCAA Division III Championships, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's track and field team began its new campaign at Westmont College's On Your Marks meet on Saturday.

The meet featured numerous scholarship athletes, unattached competitors, and athletes from club teams, as the Athenas started their quest for another strong season against a strong field of competition. 

Amanda Mell and Carolyn Weisman finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the triple jump with Mell's top effort a 10.39 meters, and Weisman three centimeters behind at 10.36. Mell also finished 11th in the long jump out of 25, with a 4.88 meters, followed immediately by Grace Pratt and Sabrine Griffith in 12th and 13th. 

Pratt, Mell and Aubrey Egerter finished in the 11-12-13 spots in the 60-meter dash with times of 8.26, 8.29 and 8.31, while Griffith (15th, 8.39) and Weisman (16th, 8.46) were close behind. Pratt was also ninth in the 200 meters with a 27.19, while Egerter earned a 10th-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles (9.66 seconds).

Amanda Gallop was one of only four throwers to break 10 meters in the shot put out of 17 in the field, finishing fourth with a top throw of 10.19 meters. She also came in second in the women's discus with a throw of 29.29 meters, just behind Christina Chapi of Westcliff University with a 29.35 meters. Julia Droof came in fourth in the 400 meters at 1:03.16, while Robin Peterson came in fifth place in the pole vault with a top effort of 3.10 meters. 

The day concluded with the Athenas putting in an impressive showing in the 4x400 relay, with Marsh, Egerter, Droof and Pratt clocking a 4:19.30 to come in second out of eight teams, trailing only host Westmont. 

CMS will be back in action in two weeks when several athletes will travel to the University of Washington to compete in the Husky Classic indoor meet from Feb. 8-10.