Heatin’ up and speedin’ up, temperatures and muscles were warm as the track and field season kicked off this weekend at home for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS). With 10 schools in attendance, excitement was in the air as both the Stags and Athenas embarked down a long road to defend each of their SCIAC titles, making significant strides by walking away with a number of wins.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, CMS hosted their annual Outdoor Indoor Distance and Field Events (OIDFE) challenge, a unique meet in which athletes compete in “indoor” track events on the outdoor track. For some athletes, this is a chance to prepare for more competitive indoor meets that will occur in the following weeks across the country and get reacquainted with the indoor distances. For others, this meet is simply a chance to get back to competing in a less stressful, lower-stakes environment.
For one Stag, Hayden Beauchemin CM ’26, this meet was an early step in his quest to Nationals. Beauchemin showed every step matters, taking first place in the men’s 800-meter race and distance medley relay (DMR), but saying he was keeping his eyes ahead.
“I would love to get that school record and qualify for nationals, but I’m not gonna set my expectations too high,” Beauchemin said. “I think I’m just trying to build my speed up and see what I can do in that. As a team I think everyone is just excited to support each other and get some PR [Personal Records].”
Taking down program records is a common aspiration amongst members of the men’s team this year. Sprinter Nick Teresi CM ’24 voiced this after winning the men’s 400-meter race.
“[I] want to put my name on that record board that we just put up this season,” Teresi said.
Despite running a couple seconds off his personal best this weekend with a time of 50.09 seconds, Teresi’s PR from last season of 47.3 seconds puts him just 0.35 seconds off the school record for the men’s 400.
With wins in the men’s DMR, 400, 800 and 4×400 this weekend, according to Beauchemin, the Stags aim to continue the momentum into the rest of the season. Despite pressure to build on last season’s SCIAC title and runner-up finishes in the men’s 4×400 at the national championship, he said the Stags remain collected and confident in their abilities this season, both looking forward to what’s ahead and enjoying the less stressful atmosphere of preseason.
According to Laura Zimmer CM ’24, ambitions are also high for the Athenas for the indoor and outdoor seasons, explaining her approach at OIDFE.
“Going into the weekend I was just ready to push myself but also not have any expectations and I think that went well for my mentality, especially as a senior,” Zimmer said. “I’m just trying to enjoy it and today was really fun.”
Zimmer, who placed first in the women’s 1000-meter race and second in the 600-meter race, outlined her goals for both seasons.
“This meet is really preparation for an indoor meet that we’re running in two weeks,” Zimmer said. “We’re gonna be traveling to Boston and I’m just trying to get some more speed in my legs.”
Natalie Bitetti CM ’24, two-time All American runner, reached her collegiate PR in the women’s mile on Saturday with a time of 5:03.73. She echoed Zimmer’s sentiments, using the meet as a pace setter.
“I wasn’t going in with any super specific goals or anything like that,” Bitetti said. “I just wanted to give a good effort and remember how to push myself. But I’m really happy with the result. I’m really excited to have this as my starting point and I am just gonna build from here.”
For both Zimmer and Bitetti, there is a considerable amount of rust to shed this season. They both missed last spring’s track season, with Zimmer coming back from an injury and Bitetti returning from studying abroad, so both athletes are looking to make their final track season at CMS a special one.
“I really just want to take every opportunity and try to get the best out of myself [because] I view running as an investment in myself,” Bitetti said. “I just don’t want to have any regrets and spend as much time as I can with my friends. This team is like my best friends.”
The Stags and Athenas have another meet at home on Feb. 3 before heading to Boston University to compete in an indoor invitational.
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