On Saturday, March 1, Sixth Street rivals Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) and Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) took on the first SCIAC Quad Cup Qualifier in dominant fashion. In mild weather, multiple school and personal records were shattered, with athletes on both sides seeing great results. Though both teams experienced success, CMS ultimately placed first in the event, doubling P-P’s points tally.
For CMS, Josie Jett CM ’27 led the way for the women’s team with three event wins in the 100-meter, 100-meter hurdle and 200-meter. She set a personal best in the 200-meter, as well as the 100-meter hurdle, which broke the all-time school record with a time of 14:30.
“This season [has] been really good,” Jett said. “I feel like just putting in the work during practice during the week, it pays off at meets.”
Finishing second to Jett in the 200-meter was Kat Kirkpatrick PO ’25, who broke the Sagehens’ all-time record for the event. Additionally, for the P-P women, the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 teams continued their dominance, with the 4 x 400 team looking to win its fourth straight SCIAC title this year. A member of both relay squads, Olivie Reichle PO ’25, emphasized the work her team has been putting in during the week.
“We have a really strong 400 group that comes out every day; they’re putting in the work, doing the hard workouts, getting those good times down in practice,” Reichle said. “That really transfers over to the relays and the open events. Here at the meet, we stick together pretty strong.”
On the men’s side, All-American Cam Hatler PO ’25 led the way once again for the Sagehens, outpacing the field in the men’s 5000-meter by over eight seconds. John Bard PZ ’26 won the 800-meter and was a part of the second-place 4 x 100 team. In the field events, William Marquart PO ’26 won the shot put with a personal best of 14.9 meters. Marquart spoke about how, despite the day going well, there is always more work to do.
“No matter how good you think you are, there’s so much more to do,” Marquart said. “I think today, things were feeling right. The body was just moving well. It just felt like it was going to be a good day, and it was.”
For the Stags, Jonathan Holcombe HM ’27 took wins in both the triple and long jump as the Stags’ lone double individual winner. On the track, Colin Scanlon CM ’25 took home the 400-meter and finished fourth in the 200-meter while setting personal bests in both races. He also anchored the winning 4 x 400 team. Scanlon said that beating his best times is not just something that happens — it takes continuous work.
“It all starts in the preseason workouts,” Scanlon said. “Track is nearly a full year commitment, the way you’re working at it through lifts and early practices and everything.”
Scanlon and Reichle both expressed their excitement for the bond that the Sagehens, Stags and Athenas have curated early this year.
“We’re really cheering each other on in every event, trying to show love for everybody,” Reichle said. “Get to those throws, events, the jumps events, distance sprints — really making sure we’re showing up for each other.”
Scanlon saw the senior leadership and the friendships on the team as the foundation of CMS’s success.
“Huge shoutout to all my senior teammates because the biggest thing I think it comes down to is culture,” Scanlon said. “You gotta like the people you’re with, and you gotta inspire the people you’re with — not just by how you perform, but how you treat them and the relationships you build.”
CMS and P-P will next both see runners at the Occidental Distance Carnival on March 8. After placing first and second on Saturday, they will both attend the second SCIAC Quad Cup Qualifier. Further down the line, the SCIAC Championships looms large, which will take place in late April.
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