Video Feature: The CMS-ence of Matilda Msall

CLAREMONT, Calif. - A four-year distance runner for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Matilda Msall has been a part of four SCIAC Championships with the cross country team. This weekend, though, will be her first chance to be one of the seven Athenas competing at nationals, when CMS is in action at the NCAA Championships in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Saturday. 

CMS earned its way to Oshkosh, its 11th straight appearance at nationals, by cruising to the NCAA West Region championship, where Msall was one of the seven Athenas running last weekend in Walla Walla, Washington. A year ago, Msall finished 21st at the SCIAC Championships, but 10th on her own team, and just missed being chosen for the top seven to move on to NCAA competition. This year, she earned All-SCIAC honors with a 14th place finish, seventh on the Athenas, and made the list to continue running into the postseason, a very difficult accomplisment, given the quality depth on the CMS roster. 

"I am so excited to go to nationals," she said. "It's been a goal of mine for a really long time, and I've come close in previous years, but just didn't make it. I've been so happy for my teammates, but wanted to go myself since freshman year, so to be able to go this year and compete for CMS and represent all those around me, all my teammates, and everyone who supported me along the way, it meant so much." 

A politics major at Scripps, Msall also spent this summer interning on Capitol Hill with Illinois congressman Mike Quigley ("a politics major's dream come true," she said) and is involved with several extra-curruricular activities around campus, including serving as the interview editor for the Claremont Journal of Law and Public Policy. She also gives back to the local community through Uncommon Good, helping to mentor low-income teenagers to pursue their college dreams. 

Msall has loved her time at Scripps ("I couldn't have chose better for my college experience and I'm so happy I did.") and running with the cross country and track teams ("being able to work hard every day with a great group of people and meet some of my best friends has meant so much to me."). Click the play button above to learn more about the CMS-ence of Matilda Msall, before she runs the final cross country race of her career on Saturday, or visit our YouTube page.