CMS Women's Track and Field Picked to Repeat as SCIAC Champions

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's track and field team, winners of the last five straight SCIAC titles, was picked to make it a six in a row in a close vote in the preseason poll of the league's coaches, the SCIAC office announced today.

The Athenas won last year's SCIAC championship by only three points over Redlands, 150-147, and this year's preseason vote was just as tight, with CMS earning 75 points and five first-place votes, and Redlands finishing right behind with 74 points and four first-place votes. Pomona-Pitzer (61) and Occidental (58) held down the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, with Whittier (40), La Verne (38), Cal Lutheran (27), Chapman (21) and Caltech (11) rounding out the poll. 

CMS returns two of its three NCAA qualifiers from a year ago as it tries to extend its impressive run of league titles, with seniors Amanda Mell (triple jump) and Sabrine Griffith (long jump) both back to try to earn All-America honors this season. Mell and Griffith both compete in multiple events, with Griffith earning All-West Region in the 100-meter hurdles as well as the long jump. 

Also back from the All-West Region team from a year ago is junior Carolyn Weisman, who joined Mell on the list for the triple jump. Sophomore Riley Harmon was All-West Region in the steeplechase and is coming off a strong fall season which saw her earn All-America honors for the CMS cross country team, while sophomore Sophie Gitlin was close behind her.  

Joining Griffith and Mell on the All-SCIAC 4x100 relay team last year were juniors Grace Pratt and Aubrey Egerter, who will have key roles this season as well. Pratt competes in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints for the Athenas, while Egerter and fellow juniors Deyana Marsh and Bailey Mknelly are the team's top returning athletes in the heptathlon. 

The sprints will also see the return of senior Nirel JonesMitchell, who finished second in the 100 at the 2018 SCIAC Championships behind teammate (and national champion) Tyra Abraham. Junior Julia Drooff is the top returner in the 400, while Egerter joins Griffith in the 100-meter hurdles, with senior Bridget McCarthy and Mknelly returning to the 400-meter hurdles. Robin Peterson finished sixth in the pole vault at SCIACs last year and is the top returner following the graduation of All-American Jacque Desmond. 

In the distance events, a young group led by Harmon, Gitlin, sophomore Brooklyn Button, sophomore Emily Clarke, and first-year Isabella Brusco will lead the way after being consistent top-seven runners for the cross country team in the fall, while senior Alexandra Lambros is also a potential SCIAC scorer who will provide veteran leadership to the group.  

Senior Amanda Gallop is back to lead the CMS throwers this season after finishing fourth in the SCIAC Championships in the shot put (and seventh in the javelin). Senior Marika Morelan was also top 10 at SCIACs in the shot put, while sophomore Sobechukwu Uwajeh was top 10 in the hammer throw.  

CMS will compete in its first outdoor event at the Pomona-Pitzer All-Comers meet on Saturday, Feb. 15, before hosting the annual Rossi Relays on Saturday, Feb. 22.