The first Athena national champion at CMS had a unique story. Gwyn Hardesty enrolled at Smith College in Massachusetts in 1983, but for her sophomore year, she traveled across the country to attend Harvey Mudd as a visiting student. While attending, she joined the CMS Women's Track and Field team, and took a national championship trophy home with her, capturing the 3000 meters in 9:42.46 at the 1985 NCAA Division III Championships. After graduating from Smith, Hardesty competed in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where she finished 13th in the 10000 meters, and won the USA Track and Field national title in the Marathon in 1998.