Video Feature: 6 a.m. Conversations with Athenas Cross Country

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The CMS women's cross country team will be vying for its 12th SCIAC title in a row tomorrow when it crosses the street to the Pomona-Pitzer cross country course to compete in the annual league championships. 

A year ago, the Athenas earned the best score in the history of the SCIAC with 18 points (just three more than the lowest possible score of 15), marking a successful return from a one-year COVID hiatus. Prior to the interruption, CMS had swept the entire decade of the 2010s, winning all 10 SCIAC titles. 

The success last year didn't stop at SCIACs, of course, as the Athenas went on to win the NCAA West Regionals and finish second at the NCAA Division III Championships, the highest finish at nationals in program history (and just two points out of first). 

Success like that doesn't happen without some sacrifices, and perhaps the biggest one is sleep, as the Athenas are often out on the road before sunrise getting their miles in to try to build up to their peak over these coming three weeks. That doesn't mean it's all serious, though, as long workouts that early in the morning inevitably lead to some interesting conversations to pass the time as all the miles add up. 

We recently had a chance to listen in on some of those conversations, courtesy of j.d.c media. Click the play button above for a small taste (10 minutes) of life on an early morning cross country workout. 

There won't be much chatter, or GoPro cameras in their hands, tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., though, as their full attention will be on competing for their 12th straight league crown.