Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges are expected to run their streak of SICAC Championships to 13 this fall according to the 2023 SCIAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
Athlete of the Year Natalie Bitetti led a sweep of the podium at last year’s SCIAC Championships with 2021 Athlete of the Year Meredith Bloss and Annika Kimme. Newcomer of the Year Elle Marsyla and Angela Gushue also made the All-SCIAC First Team, with another pair of Athenas in track & field Newcomer of the Year Riley Capuano and Laura Zimmer, who took the top two spots in the 1500m. Coaching Staff of the Year winner Marina Muncan and CMS narrowly edged Pomona-Pitzer Colleges for 10th place at the NCAA Championships.
Once again, the Sixth Street rival Sagehens were voted to pose the stiffest challenge to the Athenas but will need to replace all three runners who finished fourth-sixth at last year’s Championships. Rhea Braganza will lead the young charge after making the First Team as a rookie, along with Second Teamers Michaela Jones and fellow first-year Anna Macdonald, now all having some NCAA experience under their belts.
Occidental College is billed to make a jump up from fifth place to third behind Second Team rookie Jenna LeNay, who continued her impressive debut through the track & field season to earn bronze in the 10k. Caltech’s Second Team honoree Virginia Pistilli and track & field 5k and 10k silver medalist Sophia Dalfonzo headline the returners for the Beavers, who tied with the University of Redlands for fourth in the poll. NCAA participant Chloe Bullock is the top returner for Redlands. A First Team All-SCIAC finisher, she turned in a brilliant performance in the national championship to place 38th individually after taking ninth at the West Regional. The Bulldogs edged out Oxy by a single point at the 2022 SCIAC Championships.
Three-sport star Annika Carlson made waves in the spring as she starred for both the women’s lacrosse and track & field teams. She was also the Panthers’ top runner in the fall, clocking a 23:14.0 to place 22nd and just out of All-Conference recognition in the SCIAC Championships.
The University of La Verne brings back its top two runners from last season in Madison Bravo and Andrea Camacho. Bravo placed 41st at last year’s championship meet while Camacho crossed the finish line in 57th. California Lutheran University’s Samira Negrete is the top returning Regal; she finished 52nd at 24:49.8 at the championship race. Whittier College will be returning to the course with a plethora of fresh faces after not competing during the 2022 season.
2023 SCIAC Women’s Cross Country Poll
1. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 81 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Pomona-Pitzer, 72 pts
3. Occidental, 54 pts
4. Caltech, 53 pts
4. Redlands, 53 pts
6. Chapman, 38 pts
7. La Verne, 23 pts
8. California Lutheran, 22 pts
9. Whittier, 9 pts
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