Zimmer Breaks CMS 1500-Meter Record, Bitetti Moves Into Second in 5000

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Laura Zimmer set a new CMS women's track and field record in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:25.36, while the runner who's record she broke, Natalie Bitetti, jumped from ninth to second in the 5000 meters with a 16:37.65 at the Occidental Invitational on Saturday.

Zimmer's time took over a second off of Bitetti's previous record of 4:26.59, which she set earlier this season. Zimmer also moves into third place in NCAA Division III this season, while Bitetti places seventh and Riley Capuano stands in 11th place (the top 22 qualify for nationals). 

Bitetti, meanwhile, came just under a half-second behind the CMS record set by Bryn McKillop in 2018 (16:37.17) and moved up to 14th in NCAA Division III competition this year. Bitetti came in second place at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in the fall, and then finished second in the 3000 meters at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in the winter. 

Revere Schmidt was also in action at the Occidental Invitational in the steeplechase and finished with an 11:17.14, moving her into tenth place in CMS history. 

CMS will compete next weekend at last chance qualifiers at Azusa Pacific and Cal State Los Angeles, as they try to earn NCAA qualifying marks.