Athenas Earn Three Top-Five Finishes in Field Events at Pomona-Pitzer Invitational

Full Results

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Competing against a challenging field that included Division I athletes and club/international entrants, the CMS Women's Track and Field team earned three top five finishes in field events at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Jacque Desmond came in fifth place in the pole vault, junior Sabrine Griffith earned fifth in the long jump, and junior Amanda Mell was the fifth-place finisher in the triple jump to lead the way for CMS. 

Mell set a personal-best with her triple jump of 37 feet, 11.25 inches, which placed her fifth in a field of 24. She was only beaten out by two jumpers from Cornell, one from Fresno State, and Pascale Delauney (unattached), who won it with a jump of an even 40 feet. Carolyn Weisman also earned a top-10 finish in the triple jump with a 36'3", placing her second among Division III competitors. 

In the long jump, Griffith finished in fifth place with a jump of 18 feet, six inches, which put her behind two jumpers from Fresno State, one from Cornell and Laura Panteau of Team F.O.C.O., who captured first place with a jump of 19'4.75". Mell came in seventh for the Athenas at 18'3.25", giving CMS two finishers in the top 10 out of 49, with Grace Pratt just behind in 11th. 

Desmond's pole vault of 12 feet, 1.5 inches tied her for fifth place out of 46 competitors, although she matched the highest clearance for any collegiate vaulter. The top two finishers were national team members of Brazil (14'1.25") and Philippines (12'7.5"), while Sara Wagenveld of Azusa Pacific and unattached Bryn Williamson tied for third at 12'1.5", the same height as Desmond (Wagenveld and Willamson cleared the previous height on the first try, while Desmond cleared it on the second try, breaking the tie). 

The Athenas also had strong efforts in the distance events, as freshman Riley Harmon earned a seventh-place finish out of 71 in the 5000, crossing the line in 17:45.90. Sophomore Dulcie Jones was also in the top 20, coming in 18th in 18:30.10. 

Sophomore Abigale Johnson was 11th of 93 in the 1500 meters at 4:39.64, but first among Division III competitors. Seniors Matilda Msall (4:52.34, 18th), Natalie Marsh (4:52.34, 21st) and Malea Martin (4:57.40, 29th), Morgan Blevins (4:58.45, 33rd) and Olivia Palenscar (4:58.72, 34th) all came in under five minutes as well. 

CMS will be back in action next weekend for the third and final SCIAC Multi-Dual of the regular season, hosted by Occidental on Saturday.