Scharfen Captures SCIAC Women's Cross Country Championship

Pomona-Pitzer senior Anna Scharfen upset the field Saturday to win the 2008 SCIAC Cross Country championship meet. Scharfen, from McLean, VA, surged into the lead with 400 meters to go to win in 23:00 over the grassy, rolling 6000 meter (3.7 mile) course.

Scharfen, only third in the SCIAC Multi-Duals two weeks prior, becomes the fifth Pomona-Pitzer woman to win the SCIAC Championship meet title since the conference's women's start in 1977.  Pomona-Pitzer scored 64 points to finish second in the women's team scoring, behind Claremont-M-S (34), and ahead of Redlands (77), Whittier (97), Occidental (106), Cal Lutheran (138), Caltech (197) and La Verne (incomplete).

Behind Scharfen for the Sagehens were senior Maddy Kieselhorst (6th, 23:49) and Rose Haag (9th, 24:25). Those two, along with Scharfen, earn First Team All-SCIAC honors. Zoe Meyers (25:07) and Kayla Eland (27th, 25:15) rounded out the Sagehen scorers.