Women's Track and Field Takes Team Title at OIDFE Challenge

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's track and field team took first place at the OIDFE Challenge at Burns Track Complex in its first event of the 2023 season.

The Athenas finished with 216 points to more than double second-place Whittier with 103. Chapman (88) was third, and Master's was fourth. 

CMS had great success in the field events. Elizabeth Kirschner was a double-winner for the Athenas, taking first in the high jump with a clearance of 4-11, and adding a long-jump win at 16-2.25. She actually tied for the high jump title with her own teammate, as Cameryn Okamura also cleared 4-11 in her collegiate debut. 

Brooke Simon, a returning All-American in the pole vault, started her 2023 campaign off with a first-place finish, clearing 12-0.5 to win by over a foot. Carly Kirsch was the winner in the shot put with a throw of 34-7.75, edging out teammate Emily Burger (34-2) by just over five inches.

Shriya Velichala was the winner in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:01.52. Laura Zimmer took first in the 1000, coming in just under 3 minutes with a time of 2:59.13, while Riley Capuano was second in 3:01.59. Angie Gushue took first in the 1-mile run, leading a 1-2-3-4 Athena finish with a time of 5:28.64. Olina Wong, Jamie Habib and Amber Hughes finished in the 2-4 spots. 

Caroline DelVecchio captured the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 9.38 seconds. She also came in second in the long jump and fourth in the high jump, while anchoring the 4x400 relay to a second-place finish (along with Velichala, Jada Higgins and Mia Voce). 

CMS will be back in action on Feb. 10-11 for a pair of indoor meets at Boston University and Whitworth, before returning to outdoor competition on Feb. 18 at the Pomona-Pitzer All-Comers meet.