Brooke Simon Breaks SCIAC Pole Vault Record on First Day of League Championships

LA VERNE, Calif. - Brooke Simon became the first pole vaulter in SCIAC history to clear four meters to highlight the performance of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's track and field team on the first day of the SCIAC Championships, hosted by the University of La Verne.

Simon cleared 4.0 meters even (13'1.5") to repeat as SCIAC Champion and surpass the SCIAC (and CMS) record of 3.97 meters (13'0.25"), which was set by Jacque Desmond at the 2019 league championships. Madeliene Seifert added a second-place finish for CMS at 3.72 meters to add eight points. 

After the first day, CMS stands in first place with 71 points, well ahead of second-place Redlands with 39.5 points and third-place Pomona-Pitzer with 33 as the Athenas try to defend their league title. 

Most of the events had their prelims on Friday, but finals were contested in the pole vault, javelin, long jump and hammer throw, as well as in the 10000 meters and the steeplechase. 

Antonia Hekster was All-SCIAC in the hammer throw with a top throw of 156'3" (47.64 meters),, while Emily Burger earned All-SCIAC honors in the javelin by coming in third place with a throw of 117 feet (35.67 meters). Hekster was fourth and Georgia Arnold fifth in the javelin as CMS had 14 points from the event, while Carly Kirsch was fourth in the hammer throw, adding five points to the CMS total. Caroline DelVecchio was fifth in the long jump at 5.14 meters, good for four points. 

CMS had four runners score in the 10000 meters, which held its finals on Friday, with Anika Kimme taking fourth in 38:23.04, and Meredith Bloss fifth in 39:04.70. Carson McVay was seventh in 39:39.41 and Sara Wexler was eighth in 39:41.12. The Athenas also had two runners score in the steeplechase, with Hannah Weaver coming in fifth place in 11:56.53 and Jenna Milbrodt taking seventh in 12:23.83. 

In prelims for track events, CMS will have half of the field in the finals of both the 800 and the 1500, including 1-2-3 finishes. Mia Voce, Megan Maley, and Riley Capuano were 1-2-3 in the 800 meters, and Angie Gushe seventh, while in the 1500, Laura Zimmer, Kaya Hano and Capuano were 1-2-3, and Maley was seventh, Gushue 11th and Jamie Habib 12th, giving CMS six of the 12 in tomorrow's finals. 

DelVecchio was first in the prelims in both hurdles events as she looks to defend her SCIAC titles tomorrow. She will be joined in the 400-meter hurdles finals by Shriya Velichala and Olivia Schleifer, while Jada Higgins will be in the 400-meter run finals. 

The second day will begin at 10 a.m. with the discus, while track events will get underway at 3:30 p.m. with the women's 4x100 relay.