Hekster, Marsyla Win Events as Athenas Hold Narrow Lead at SCIAC Championships

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Antonia Hekster took first place in the hammer throw by a margin of almost 18 feet, and Elle Marsyla took first in the 10000 meters, to help the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's track and field team open up a narrow five-point lead over Redlands after the first day of the SCIAC Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Strehle Track.

CMS has 51 points after the first day, with Redlands close behind at 46, as Pomona-Pitzer stands a distant third with 27 points. 

Hekster's hammer throw reached 166 feet, two inches, well ahead of Megan Robertson of Caltech in second place with a throw of 148 feet, nine inches. She passed her previous PR by eight feet, two inches and moves up from seventh to fifth in CMS history. 

Marsyla, meanwhile, led a 1-2 finish for CMS in the 10000 meters with a time of 37:19.99, while Sara Wexler came in second with a time of 37:40.80. 

Georgia Arnold earned All-SCIAC in the javelin throw with a top distance of 110 feet, six inches to come in third, while Hekster came in eighth with a throw of 107 feet, 11 inches. 

Revere Schmidt also earned All-SCIAC distinction in the steeplechase by coming in second place with a time of 11:24.55, while Hannah Weaver was fifth and Jenna Milbrodt came in seventh. 

In prelims, CMS had six of the 12 qualifiers in the 1500 meters, with Laura Zimmer, Riley Capuano and Natalie Bitetti each winning their heats, while Angie Gushue, Sadie Drucker and Kaya Hano also earned their way into tomorrow's finals. Zimmer, Capuano and Gushue also qualified for the 800 meter finals, along with Sally Gaskell, as the Athenas will have half of the eight-runner field in that event. 

Shriya Velichala qualified for the finals in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 65.20, which was the second-fastest time in prelims. Jospehine Jett won her heat in the 100-meter hurdles to qualify for the finals in 15.27, while Georgia Rogers earned one of the eight spots in the finals as well. Jett also qualified for the finals in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.59.