CMC75 Moments: 2011 Women's XC Captures NCAA Trophy With Fourth-Place Finish
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
2011 Women's Cross Country: Athenas Finish Fourth at Nationals
The CMS Women's Cross Country team had regularly been winning SCIAC titles when the 2010s began, winning 13 of 16 since 1994, although the 2009 team finished second to Occidental. In 2010, the Athenas got back to the top of the conference (and hasn't left that perch since), and then the 2011 team made a huge leap forward on the national stage after compiling a 14-0 SCIAC record.
The Athenas were 20th at the NCAA Division III Championships in 2008, 22nd in 2009 and 20th in 2010, so heading to the 2011 nationals, any finish in the top 15 or so would be a strong step forward. Instead, CMS vaulted all the way into the top five, finishing in fourth place behind only WashU, Middlebury and Williams, matching the 1995 team for the highest finish in program history.
Breanna Deutsch earned All-America honors with a 19th place finish, with Laura Sauvage adding a 40th place finish to place in the top 50. Jennifer Tavé (77), Sara Mostatabi (83) and Allison Barnwell (87) also ran strong races to give CMS all five scorers in the top 100.
The fourth-place finish also meant an NCAA trophy came home with the Athenas on the flight (which are given to the top four finishers). Without some misfortune, CMS had the potential to finish even higher, except Tavé, a two-time All-American who came in seventh at nationals in 2010, was battling an injury and wasn't in top form.
CMS would go one better the following year and finish third at nationals, with first-year Bridget Blum and Barnwell earning All-America honors, and Mostatabi and seniors Marnie Hogue and Aubrey Zimmerling also in the Athenas' top five.
Jennifer Tavé:
I mainly remember the team being so strong that season, and always looking impressive with such a close and large pack leading the races.
I unfortunately got a stress fracture mid-season but decided I wanted to be there and race for the team at Regionals and Nationals. I should have placed much better individually that season had I not gotten injured, but that Nationals race really made it clear that the team's success was far more satisfying than any success I had individually.
I think all of us particularly remember the team huddle we had at the end of the race (pictured at right) - the relief, the excitement, the potential for even better. Being a part of that team was a really special experience - nothing like running a race being surrounded by so many teammates racing toward a shared goal.
2011 Women's Cross Country Roster
Head Coach: John Goldhammer
Assistant Coach: Kelly Beck
Gabriel Al-Shamma (Fr., Scripps)
Allison Barnwell (So., CMC)
Alisse Baumgarten (Jr., CMC)
Lisa Beem (So., Scripps)
Aja Brofferio (So., CMC)
Rebecca Ciszewski (So., CMC)
Kate Crawford (Jr., HMC)
Breanna Deutsch (Sr., Scripps)
Adele Eslinger (So., CMC)
Kelly Garton (Sr., Scripps)
Alison Gushue (Sr., CMC)
Emery Hillies (Sr., Scripps)
Marnie Hogue (Jr., Scripps)
Danielle Knott (Fr., CMC)
Sara Mostatabi (Fr., CMC)
Kara Odum (Fr., Scripps)
Adriana Ramos (So., CMC)
Julia Rigby (Sr., Scripps)
Laura Sauvage (So., CMC)
Rebecca Schell (So., Scripps)
Sara Sholes (Sr., HMC)
Kaitlyn Spees (Fr., Scripps)
Jennifer Tavé (Jr., Scripps)
Taia Wu (Fr., Scripps)
Laura Wyatt (Jr., Scripps)
Aubrey Zimmerling (Jr., CMC)