About the Program

Consistently one of the top teams in conference, Pomona-Pitzer's women's cross country team boasts an outstanding history of success. The harriers race over 5000m and 6000m courses, and the list of successful runners who have worn the Pomona-Pitzer singlet is a lengthy one.

Since the inception of SCIAC conference competition in women's cross country in 1977, Pomona-Pitzer's women's team boasts a 154-55-1 record against conference rivals -- a strong .733 winning percentage.

At the conference level, Pomona-Pitzer women have won five team SCIAC titles, and the following SCIAC Championship meet victories: Kelly Redfield (1990), Anastasia Finnegan (1998), Laura Bishop (2000 and 2001), Alicia Freese (2007) and Anna Scharfen (2008).

The women's team competes in the NCAA III West Region meet, and has consistently placed well there -- three times earning NCAA Nationals berths as a team, including the 2008 squad. Individually, 13 Pomona-Pitzer distance runners have advanced to the NCAA III National meet, with Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Kelly Redfield '92 earning All American honors in 1991, and Alicia Freese '10 earning All American honors in 2008.

National qualifiers include Amy Phillips and Becky Beal (1983), Cassie Hartzog (1985), Kelly Redfield (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991), Andrea Shane (1989), Judith Alderman (1991), Negar Geula Knowles (1991), Katie Burco and Sonya Patton (1993), Leah Barnes (1998), Anastasia Finnegan (1999), Laura Bishop (2001), and Alicia Freese (2007, 2008).

Success for the women's cross country program isn't limited to the race course. By having a total team roster with a cumulative GPA of over 3.10, the entire squad has earned All-Academic honors nationally every year since the award's beginning in 1994, with the 2004 team's GPA of 3.56 standing 18th among all NCAA III institutions.

The squad trains on the neighborhood streets and bike paths of idyllic Claremont, and on the rolling dirt fireroads and trails in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains in northern Claremont. In recent years, the cross country team has competed in the Alumni meet at home, the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, the UC Riverside Invitational, the Stanford Invitational, the SCIAC Multi-Dual Meet in La Mirada Park, the SCIAC Championship Meet at Prado Park in Chino, and both the NCAA III West Region and National meets to cap off the season.