DelVecchio Breaks CMS Record in 400 Hurdles at Bryan Clay Invitational

AZUSA, Calif. – Caroline DelVecchio became the second new CMS women's track and field record holder in as many days when she broke the 16-year-old program record in the 400-meter hurdles on Friday afternoon at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific's Cougar Stadium.

DelVecchio finished in 61.21, which won her heat by 1.5 seconds and placed her ninth overall in a field of 65 runners, many of whom came from Division I schools. It edged the CMS record by just two-hundredths of a second, beating the old program standard of 61.23 set by Jackie Muhich in 2006, and also broke her previous personal best by over one second (1.11).

Nationally, DelVecchio now places second in Division III, behind only Bethany Schmidt of George Fox, who ran a 61.08 on April 1. DelVecchio also ran the 100-meter hurdles earlier in the day, finishing with a time of 14.86 seconds.

Capping off the evening, Laura Zimmer ran the 1500 and finished in 4:35.27 to move into seventh place in CMS history, one spot behind Natalie Bitetti, who ran ran a 4:38.50 on Friday.  Brooke Simon competed in the pole vault on Friday and finished tied for fifth with Kristi Yorke of Fresno Pacific at 12-feet even. 

One day prior, Meredith Bloss set a new CMS record in the 10000 meters at the Mt. Sac Relays on Thursday, finishing in a time of 34:35.52 to take almost a full minute off of the old school mark of 35:22.27, which had held since 2011, when it was set by Jennifer Tave. Meanwhile, Emily Clarke won her section of the women's 5000-meter run at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific, finishing in 16:53.28 to move into fourth place in CMS history, while Riley Harmon also ran a 17:04.52 in the following section of the 5000, which moved her up to No. 7 all-time in CMS history.

The Athenas will be in action tomorrow at the third SCIAC Multi-Dual, hosted by La Verne, in the final tune-up before the SCIAC Championships on April 30 and May 1.