Bloss, Clarke, Simon Earn NCAA Indoor Qualifications for CMS Women's Track and Field

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Meredith Bloss (5000 meters), Emily Clarke (3000 meters) and Brooke Simon (pole vault) earned qualifications to the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships this week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the NCAA announced on Sunday evening.

The Athena trio earned their trips to North Carolina by ranking in the top 20 in the country during the regular season in their events, an impressive feat since they each only attended one indoor meet, due to the lack of indoor track events in Southern California. 

Bloss and Clarke both earned All-America honors in the fall for CMS women's cross country, when they helped the Athenas to a second-place finish at nationals. Two weeks later, Bloss ran an impressive time indoors at the Boston University Season Opener on Dec. 4 in the 5000, finishing in 17:07.26, which held up as the tenth-best time in the country. 

Clarke, meanwhile, also qualified at Boston University, but at the BU Last Chance Meet on Feb. 27, when she earned a 9:51.52 in the 3000 meters. That time ranks her No. 12 in the country in Division III, heading into the NCAA Championships. 

Simon achieved her mark at the Whitworth Invitational on Feb. 12, when she cleared 3.82 meters (12'6.25"). That clearance ties her for tenth in the country, heading to Winston-Salem. 

The three Athenas will be joined by four members of the CMS men's track and field team, including Miles Christensen and Henry Pick, who joined Bloss and Clarke at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in the fall, and joined Bloss at the Boston University Season Opener. Massimo Bertini (400 meters) and Kai Dettman (800 meters), who also runs cross country in the fall, earned qualifications as well for the Stags.