CMS Women's Cross Country Picked Fourth in Preseason USTFCCCA Poll

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's cross country team was picked to finish fourth in the country in a preseason vote of the nation's coaches, the United States Track and Field and Cross Cross Country Coaches Association announced today.

CMS is coming off of its highest finish in program history, when it finished as the national runner-up behind Johns Hopkins in 2021. The difference between first and second was only two points, as the Athenas nearly came back to win the national title, but ended up in second. 

Johns Hopkins was picked third in the 2022 poll, with CMS one spot behind, while SUNY Geneseo, the third-place finisher last year, was the coaches pick to win the title this fall. Wartburg was second, while Williams was one spot behind CMS in fifth, followed by Chicago, MIT, Hope, WashU and Wisconsin-Lacrosse in the top 10. 

CMS graduated four of the seven runners who attended nationals last year, including three of the scorers: All-Americans Riley Harmon and Emily Clarke, as well as Sophie Gitlin. The Athenas do have their top two finishers back in Meredith Bloss, who came in 13th and was the SCIAC Athlete of the Year, and Natalie Bitetti, who was the 16th-place finisher and earned SCIAC Newcomer of the Year honors. 

Also back from the national team a year ago are sophomore Angie Gushue and junior Laura Zimmer, who will try to remain in the CMS top seven this year as the Athenas try to earn another high finish at nationals. 

CMS will open its 2022 season at the Redlands Invitational on Sept. 3.