Dear Wildcat Harrier Fans, Resting the top 10, and running everyone else, including the slew of frosh red shirts that help make up the squad, the Wildcats enjoyed a solid outing at the Asics Aggies Folsom Challenge on Saturday. The depth of the Wildcat squad was evident in both races, as the men poured 9 Chico affiliated runners into the top 20 overall, while the women finished with 6 among the top 21. The Folsom challenge is a part of the mostly post-collegiate Pacific Association (USATF) cross country series and drew a variety of talented runners from different parts of Northern CA. With no team scoring for college teams, the emphasis on this day would be to gain valuable racing experience over the challenging terrain of the Folsom HS course. Thankfully this mission was accomplished as both squads raced very well on Saturday. We’ll start with the women’s 5k race: The women’s 5k course is a very challenging one, that runs over the Sac Joaquin section HS championship layout. The course has many turns and hills, and keeps the mind and body very busy as you negotiate the varied terrain. From the gun Senior Laura Cohen who has exhausted her XC eligibility, but has another track remaining, ran among the leaders. With several post collegiate standouts up front, including Melanie Cleland (sub 34 min 10k credentials) and Delores Bergman (top 10 Wharf to Wharf finisher) Cohen would have her hands full on this day. Following not far behind was red shirting wildcat Sarah Montez who ran among the top 15 overall by the mile mark. Another red shirt, Allison Ivie also ran among the top 20 overall, looking very strong despite the quick early pace. The first Chico uniform to pass the mile mark was Soph Dinora Moran, who seems to be building steam with each passing race. Following Moran in uniform were Lindsey Brown, Kellie Stephens, Lyndsey Kuehn (running her first race in uniform this season), and Nancy Cavaletto. Everyone seemed to be attacking the course in an aggressive way, not allowing themselves to “settle in.” Moving up VERY well over the final 2 miles Lyndsey Kuehn would eventually finish 18th overall looking quite strong. Up front, Cohen fought hard with the lead group, which had been separated by a big Bergman surge at mid race. Cohen, not known for the big wheels at the conclusion of the race, lost a tough sprint for top 3, but still managed a very solid 5th place finish among a very talented field. Finishing approximately :30 behind and just inside the top 10, was Sarah Montez. 12th place would be the finishing place of Ivie, with Moran crossing just two places back w/14th overall. Coaches’ wife Roxanne managed a solid 15th place finish (not bad for the 30+ yr old ;). Just seconds behind were Lyndsey X 2 Kuehn/Brown who finished 18th and 19th respectively in the 68 runner field. All in all, a very good day for the ‘Cats. Individual Results below: ˙ Dolores Humboldt TC 18:50 2 Cleland Melanie Mizuno 19:01 3 Ksenzulak Stephanie Unatt 19:05 4 Paganzo Sally Impala 19:08 5 Cohen Laura Unatt (Chico St.) 19:11 6 Olen Christine Asics Aggies 19:41 7 Wahleithner Juliet Fleet Feet Sacto 19:23 8 Fortino Wendy Asics Aggies 19:35 9 Bambury Stephanie Asics Aggies 19:37 10 Montez Sarah Unatt (Chico St.) 19:42 11 Runquist Pam GV Harriers 20:06 12 Ivie Allison Unatt (Chico St.) 20:11 13 Lister Jen GV Harriers 20:22 14 Moran Dinora Chico State 20:25 15 Towne Roxanne Unatt 20:31 16 Marello Janine Fleet Feet Sacto 20:34 17 Wade Lisa GV Harriers 20:34 18 Kuehn Lindsey Chico State 20:35 19 Brown Lindsey Chico State 20:42 20 Mandy Gina Buffalo Chips 20:54 21 Stephens Kellie Chico State 21:13 22 Pratt Wendy GV Harriers 21:25 23 Kune Karen Fleet Feet Sacto 21:36 24 Mohr Rtrudy Fleet Feet Sacto 21:47 25 Enfield Katie Chico State 21:51 26 Wilson Desiree River City Rebels 21:58 27 Hicks Tami Unatt 22:00 28 Cavaletto Nancy Chico State 22:02 29 Michel Samantha Asics Aggies 22:05 30 Torres Mary Unatt (Chico St.) 22:13 31 Foster Ondi Chico State 22:19 32 Youmans Lisa Empire Runners 22:22 33 Glickman Maria Fleet Feet Sacto 22:29 34 Brown Theresa Fleet Feet Sacto 22:30 35 Yin Sophia GV Harriers 22:36 36 Svoboda Meg Buffalo Chips 22:37 37 Condon Ally Buffalo Chips 22:37 38 Besobrasow Ellen Tamalpa 22:53 39 Kuffel Karin Pacific Striders 23:03 40 Ruprecht Elaine Unatt 23:06 41 Parise Carol Buffalo Chips 23:09 42 Thoreson Nita GV Harriers 23:11 43 Markey Lori River City Rebels 23:19 44 Woo Mary Fleet Feet Sacto 23:21 45 Steinkamp Allison Unatt (Chico St.) 23:25 46 Zeigler Juliet Tamalpa 23:38 47 Scott Cindy Unatt 23:47 48 Zakerski Debbie Fleet Feet Sacto 23:51 49 Craig Cary GV Harriers 23:58 50 Churchman BZ Pacific Striders 23:59 51 Dinell Malia Pacific Striders 24:07:00 52 Cranford Amy Unatt (Chico St.) 24:20:00 53 Scott Melissa Fleet Feet Sacto 24:47:00 54 Lucero Monique Fleet Feet Sacto 24:48:00 55 Inouye Janine Fleet Feet Sacto 25:10:00 56 Dziedzic Tracy Pacific Striders 25:23:00 57 Pell Eve Impala 25:34:00 58 Lay Leann River City Rebels 25:41:00 59 Fong Hillary Asics Aggies 26:01:00 60 Lee Nathanie GV Harriers 26:34:00 61 Zakerski Karly Fleet Feet Sacto 26:41:00 62 Nickel Yvonne Fleet Feet Sacto 26:43:00 63 Rigle Kelly River City Rebels 27:17:00 64 Race Jill River City Rebels 27:21:00 65 Rausch Devyn GV Harriers 28:10:00 66 Barnett Rusty Fleet Feet Sacto 29:32:00 67 Olson Jeanne Impala 32:03:00 68 Grey Renvelyn GV Harriers 35:35:00 Men’s 4 mile Race: Running as their resting teammates normally do, from the front, the Chico men’s group made their way immediately to the head of the pack in the opening meters of the race. This ‘frisky’ start would cost a few in the later stages of the race, but it’s that confidence and fire that will help these guys someday run at the level that our current top 7 runners are. As the pace settled a bit and the true contenders like Peter Gilmore (2:14 marathoner and top 10 Oly trials finisher) made their way to the fore, the Chico men went to work over hill and dale attacking each section of the course with all they could. By mid race, Gilmore had control of the lead, while several post collegiate standouts gave chase from behind. Chico RS Frosh Angel Marquez who’s missed most of the season with injury, looked very good cruising through 2 miles at a brisk pace, and running among the top 10 overall. Red shirting frosh Jordan Page, Jordan Fairley, and Eddie Serna all looked strong as well, although Page’s quick opening mile was catching up with him a bit. Nick Clinton who seems to run well in every other race (something we’re working on) was showing that this was indeed one of his “on” races as he pressed on, running among the top 15 overall. On the men’s side, we currently have a group of 8 red shirting frosh who are working hard to develop into top collegiate distance runners. Each has paid his dues, and gone through some tough races and training during the course of this season. This past week, after many rough workouts, this group seemed to have several breakthrough efforts, showing that the training was starting to sink in. With these solid workouts behind them, the group seemed to be racing with more confidence today and the results would certainly show (6 finished among the top 20 overall). 1 Gilmore Peter Unattached 19:48 2 Tibaduiza Ron Unattached 20:09 3 Bruins Jeff Mizuno Running Zone 20:18 4 Kuehn Jak Asics Aggies 20:25 5 Scott Jared Asics Aggies 20:37 6 Mencarini Eric Unattached 20:44 7 Marquez Angel Chico State 20:50 8 Blanco Gary Empire Runners 20:59 Chico Alum 9 Styczynski Mike Unattached 21:01 10 Serna Eddie Unatt (Chico St) 21:03 11 Clinton Nick Chico State 21:07 12 Perez Gustavo Asics Aggies 21:10 13 Fairley Jordan Unatt (Chico St) 21:11 14 Vasquez Juan Fleet Feet Sacto 21:12 15 Nichol Ryan Fleet Feet Sacto 21:19 16 Wilson Jeff Chico State 21:23 17 Page Jordan Unatt (Chico St) 21:25 18 Wickman Michael Unatt (Chico St) 21:27 19 Werner Tommy Unatt (Chico St) 21:30 20 Whitcomb Thomas Unatt (Chico St) 21:35 21 Gardina Jeff Asics Aggies 21:45 22 Salme Darren Asics Aggies 21:46 23 Dirks Taft Unattached 21:48 24 Napieralski Dan River City Rebels 21:49 25 Rolin Shea Chico State 21:53 26 Gilchrist Jacob Fleet Feet Sacto 21:56 27 Sharp Alex Unatt (Chico St) 21:59 28 Perez Rene Asics Aggies 22:06 29 Oberlatz Jeff Fleet Feet Sacto 22:13 Chico ALUM 30 Moore Mason Fleet Feet Sacto 22:24 31 Hinsley Bryant Unatt (Chico St) 22:38 32 Velazquez Orlando GV Harriers 22:39 33 Colby Jordan Fleet Feet Sacto 22:42 Chico Alum 34 Gustafson Christopher GV Harriers 22:45 35 Morris Courtney Fleet Feet Sacto 22:46 36 Dix Roger Asics Aggies 22:50 Chico Alum 37 Brickner Jonathon Fleet Feet Sacto 22:55 38 Schmidt Lars GV Harriers 23:04 39 Jarrett Ben GV Harriers 23:13 40 Grove Robert Asics Aggies 23:20 41 Rhodes Don Excelsior 23:24 42 Van de Water Joe Unattached 23:30 43 Nichol Eric Fleet Feet Sacto 23:51 44 Jackson Michael GV Harriers 24:05:00 45 Robinson Dusty Fleet Feet Sacto 24:24:00 46 Thoreson Bryan GV Harriers 24:30:00 47 Gutierrez Brian Fleet Feet Sacto 25:21:00 48 Waters Christopher Fleet Feet Sacto 26:23:00 49 Araya Adrian Fleet Feet Sacto 26:32:00 50 Bates James River City Rebels 27:45:00 51 Ratti Nichols Pacific Striders 29:22:00