Women's Cross Country

Women's Cross Country All-SCIAC: Marsyla Championship Return Nets Athlete of the Year

Elle Marsyla came out ahead of a tight pack of five Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges runners to claim Athlete of the Year honors in a triumphant return from missing last season due to injury.

Newcomer of the Year recognition went to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges rookie Kate Sherry, who nabbed the final All-Conference Second Team slot by virtue of placing 20th.

Gigi Pistilli of Caltech was presented with the Celia Peterson Award, named after the initial conference champion from Caltech in 1977. It recognizes the senior athlete who best exemplifies the conference’s high ideals through their ability, leadership, determination, sportsmanship and academics. A two-year captain and four-time All-SCIAC honoree, Pistilli was an important member of the Caltech team that placed a program-record third at SCIACs in 2022 and sixth at the NCAA West Regional Championships. The senior has held a 4.0 grade-point average as a biochemistry major while also minoring Environmental Science and Engineering with research focusing on soil science, particularly carbon sequestration and plant nanobiotechnology. Over four years, Pistilli has grown in ability to be a vocal leader, consistently encouraging and motivating teammates. Often be found mentoring teammates on how to find peace in the rigorous academic environment of Caltech and how to find joy in competing, Pistilli's resilience and supportive spirit make her a standout leader and teammate.

Marina Muncan won a fifth consecutive Coaching Staff of the Year award for CMS after the Athenas swept the top three individual places with six of the top 10 finishers and another pair on the Second Team.

 
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Athlete
of the Year

Newcomer
of the Year

  Celia Peterson  
Award

Coaching
  Staff of the Year  

Elle Marsyla
CMS

Kate Sherry
Pomona-Pitzer

Virginia Pistilli
Caltech

  Marina Muncan  
CMS

 
First Team All-SCIAC
Name Institution Year Hometown
Elle Marsyla CMS Sr. Woodside, Calif.
Riley Capuano CMS Jr. Los Altos, Calif.
Hope Dragseth CMS So. De Pere, Wis.
Joya Terdiman Pomona-Pitzer Sr. San Francisco, Calif.
Sara Wexler CMS Sr. Denver, Colo.
Sadie Drucker CMS Jr. Portland, Ore.
Brenda Daza Chapman Jr. Buena Park, Calif.
Brannan Rosenfeld CMS So. Portland, Ore.
Eva Novy-Hildesley Pomona-Pitzer Jr. Portland, Ore.
Summer Gelman Cal Lutheran Sr. Agoura, Calif.
Second Team All-SCIAC
Name Institution Year Hometown
Fiona Bodkin Pomona-Pitzer Jr. Los Altos, Calif.
Kendall Madine Pomona-Pitzer So. Niwot, Colo.
Olivia Backholm CMS So. Los Altos, Calif.
Mia Voce CMS Sr. Seattle, Wash.
Maggie Avey Pomona-Pitzer Jr. Eagle, Idaho
Ryleigh LaRue La Verne Sr. Azusa, Calif.
Jenna LeNay Occidental Sr. Nipomo, Calif.
Virginia Pistilli Caltech Sr. Portola Valley, Calif.
Megan Walter Pomona-Pitzer Jr. Atlanta, Ga.
Kate Sherry Pomona-Pitzer Fy.  Palos Verdes, Calif.
 

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