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Natalie Bitetti repeated as SCIAC Champion (photo by Aaron Gray)
Natalie Bitetti repeated as SCIAC Champion (photo by Aaron Gray)
Posted: Oct 30, 2023

Bitetti Named SCIAC Athlete of the Year as Athenas Cross Country Sweeps Major Awards

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Natalie Bitetti earned the SCIAC Athlete of the Year Award for the second year in a row, Revere Schmidt captured the Newcomer of the Year, Laura Zimmer earned the Celia Peterson Leadership Award, and Marina Muncan, Nick Spector and Justin Helfer were named the Coaching Staff of the Year, the conference office announced today.

CMS swept all four major awards after dominating at the SCIAC Championships this weekend, winning the title with 19 points, well ahead of second-place Redlands with 91 points. 

Bitetti repeated as the SCIAC Champion in the individual race, taking the title by almost 30 seconds over teammate Elle Marsyla in second place. They were joined on the All-SCIAC first team by Riley Capuano (third place), Zimmer (sixth place), Angie Gushue (seventh place) and Sara Wexler (eighth place). 

Schmidt came in 12th place and was the top finisher among first-year athletes, earning her the league's Newcomer of the Year honor (which Marsyla won last year and Bitetti the year before). Hannah Weaver (15th place) was also a second-team All-SCIAC winner. 

Zimmer earned the Celia Peterson Award as a dual major at Claremont McKenna in economics and psychology. She has served as Co-President of Claremont Women in Business for the past two years, Vice President of the CMS SAAC and a notetaker for economics, psychological statistics and macroeconomics while also working as the student director of tour guides, a social media intern for the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement and a fellow at 5C Product Space.

Head Coach Marina Muncan repeated as part of the Coaching Staff of the Year, and did it this year with two new assistants, as Spector and Helfer joined the staff this offseason and helped CMS continue its string of league championships with one of its most dominant performances. 

CMS will be back in action on Nov. 11 for the NCAA West Regionals at the Riverside City Cross Country Course, where it will hope to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships in Pennsylvania on Nov. 18.