CMS Distance Program Shines at Occidental Spring Break Classic

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - On a perfect day in Southern California, the CMS distance squad, while competing at the Occidental Distance Carnival/Spring Break Classic on Saturday, scored an impressive 33 all-time bests for the 38 athletes who raced.

With a focus on the 5K, a total of 14 of the 15 Stags who ran scored PR's, with only senior Ben Iten missing his PR, and that by a mere three seconds while running a fine 15:07.91

The three top performers were Harvey Mudd Freshman Miles Christensen, as he broke the freshman class record by 16 seconds recording a national-leading time of 14:24.67.  Continuing to be one of the really pleasant surprises for the spring season was Stevie Steinberg, who despite being under the weather, improved his PR for the race by 42 seconds as he dropped to 14:46.34.

The biggest surprise for the evening came from junior Wilson Ives, who having run the 800 and 1500 his first two years, tried the 5k for the first time and with a huge finishing kick (1:37 over the last 600) timed an impressive 14:55.19. 

The Stags and Athenas will head into their spring break, knowing that more tough competition and fast times will be ahead as they will return to conference competition on March 30 on the Caltech track.