Women's Track and Field Fourth at SCIAC Champs
Pomona-Pitzer's women's track and field team finished fourth Monday, April 27 at the 2009 SCIAC Track and Field Championships. Numerous Sagehen all-time bests were set, and junior Claire McGroder earned an individual title in the 400 meters.
Under cool and perfect conditions at Occidental College's Bill Henry Track, the Sagehens scored 69.5 points to finish behind Claremont-M-S (175), Cal Lutheran (103.5), and Whittier (81), but ahead of Occidental (68.5), Redlands (65), La Verne (26) and Caltech (0.5).
McGroder clocked 56.65 to win the 400m. Her time stands sixth-fastest nationally on the 2009 NCAA Division III qualifying lists. The junior speedster returned later in the meet to finish second in the 200m at 26.00. In addition, McGroder ran legs on both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
Senior sprinter Connie Cheng earned All-SCIAC honors by finishing fourth in the 100m (12.92) and sixth in the long jump (15-6.75), and led off the 4x100 relay team. Frosh Traci Lopez earned All-SCIAC honors by finishing third in the 400 meters behind McGroder (58.38), taking second in the 400 hurdles (67.17), and fourth in the high jump (4-11). Senior Maddy Kieselhorst earned All-SCIAC honors by finishing fifth in the 1500m (4:48.48). Junior Rose Haag earned All-SCIAC honors by finishing fourth in the 5000m run (18:28.59) and fifth in the 3000m steeplechase (11:59.86).
The 4x100m relay team of Cheng-McGroder-Lopez-Coleen Holliday finished second in a strong 49.01, while the 4x400m relay team of McGroder-Kieselhorst-Holliday-Lopez took third in a strong 4:03.03.
On the field, frosh Mica Fein pole vaulted 10-0 to finish fifth and earn All-SCIAC honors, while junior Ellie Chestnut earned SCIAC honors by finishing fourth in the hammer (144-3) and sixth in the javelin (115-8).
