CMS Women's Cross Country Moves Up to No. 2 in Latest National Poll

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's cross country team, which is 10 days away from going from its 11th straight SCIAC title, moved up to No. 2 in the nation in the latest USTFCCCA Division III coaches poll, the organization announced today.

The Athenas moved up from No. 4 to No. 2 this week, behind only Johns Hopkins. CMS did not compete last weekend, but benefited in the polls from Pomona-Pitzer defeating the No. 2 (Wartburg) and No. 3 (WashU) teams at the Augsburg Invitational, with the Sagehens moving up to No. 3 behind CMS. 

CMS has still yet to lose to a Division III program this season. The Athenas were second at the season-opening Mark Covert Classic, falling only to the Division I hosts from Cal State Fullerton. CMS then finished second at the UC Riverside Invitational, behind only another Division I program from California Baptist. 

The Athenas then competed at the Division III Pre-Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, earning a convincing first-place finish on Oct. 2, and came back one week later to win the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. CMS has had four different runners lead the team at those four events to win SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors, beginning with Emily Clarke on Sept. 6, and followed by Meredith Bloss, Natalie Bitetti and Riley Harmon, who added USTFCCCA National Division III Athlete of the Week honors after winning the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. 

CMS will be back in action for the SCIAC Championships on Oct. 30, which will be held at Pomona-Pitzer's course. The Athenas have won the last 10 SCIAC Cross Country Championships from 2010-19, with no competition in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To view the complete USTFCCCA Division III poll from Oct. 20, go to the following link:

USTFCCCA Division III poll