Chico men stretch conference title streak to eight as Elam wins Women rebound from last year's dissappointment to also claim title

By Gary Towne, Chico State head coach Saturday, October 24, 2009

Vivien Wadeck(Cal State LA), Tori Tyler, Tiffany Turner (Pomona), Bre Schofield (UCSD - behind Wadek) make their way up the initial hill during the opening mile.

McKinleyville, CA -- I'm proud to announce that both of the Chico State cross country squads were successful in their defense of the CCAA championship titles this weekend. Competing in foggy and cool conditions on a very challenging Beau Pre Golf Course (Meet was hosted by Humboldt State) both men's and women's squads easily outdistanced their opponents. The men's team placed an impressive 10 runners among to Top-16 overall (while resting 14:20-5k guy Tim Cannon) while claiming their 8th straight conference title. The women's 33 point effort which was led by a 3-4-5 finish of Julie Shaw, Alia Gray and Kara Lubieniecki gave the Lady-Cats their sixth such title in the past eight years. Since the women ran first we'll start with the 6K. Women's 6,000m: The Beau Pre layout was definitely not one for the weary and rewarded those who are strong on hilly surfaces. Given that the 'Cats would be running without two time All American Tori Tyler, it would be up to the rest of the Wildcat line-up to provide the low points needed for victory. Tori has been dealing with several nagging injuries that have limited her training volumes and caused the coaching staff to be more cautious with how and when to let her race. Tori did join the 'Cats in Humboldt and enjoyed a solid workout on the CCAA layout before the actual race began. Ok, back to the races.

Before describing the women's race I think it's best to quickly paint a picture of the Beau Pre course. After an initial 800m of relatively flat and grassy terrain the course starts to pitch upward for the better part of 300-400m before athletes loop to their left and descend down the fairway back in the general direction of the start/finish area. Most of the second mile is spent on the flat area between the mile mark and the clubhouse (which is elevated about 40-50 ft higher than the fairways below. After climbing up a cart path and running in front of the clubhouse, the athletes dive down the 40-50ft descent to the flat area where they head back toward the main hill that was climbed during the first mile. At about 2.5 miles the course starts to climb again with the early stages of the hill being relatively modest. Modest quickly turns to difficult though, and difficult turns to VERY difficult as the athletes climb the final steep section of what is probably the better part of 1/2 mile of climbing. The three mile mark awaits at the high point of the course, and the women's 6k dives down the .75 mile stretch back to the start area to the finish. The men's course is much the same with the addition of another Club house loop, along with another flat mile to the finish. This was without a doubt the toughest course that we'd faced all year, but as we look ahead to a difficult NCAA layout in Indiana, we were happy to experience such a course. The women's race was predictably fast from the start with a number of athletes who hadn't been factored among the favorites, running well within the top 10. The hilly first mile made quick work of those who didn't belong, and the race was shaped much like the eventual finish as athletes reached the mile mark. LA's Vivian Wadeck the defending CCAA champ and '08-8th place NCAA finisher had a solid lead with UCSD's Briana Schofield (22nd at NCAA's a year ago) chasing in second. The plan for the top 'Cats was for Alia Gray, Kara Lubieniecki and Julie Shaw to work together, eventually moving their way into the Top-5 overall. Chasing the overall individual title wasn't as a priority as placing three among the Top-5 (for team purposes) and the women executed this perfectly. Shannon Rich floated along among the top 10-12 early looking comfortable and confident throughout. A pack of four 'Cats that included Paige Henker, Jonah Weeks, Alyssa Flores and Colleen Joyce also looked strong, working together through the early kilometers. As the women headed toward the final big climb of the day there was relatively little change in the overall placements, only gaps growing larger and an occasional pass here and there. Thankfully the 'Cats attacked the final climb well, and finished strong. Senior Julie Shaw who'd survived a Thursday bicycle mishap that saw her run into someone's car door as she pedaled to class, shook off the bruises and stiff muscles to record her best ever CCAA finish (3rd), and teammates Alia Gray and Kara Lubieniecki followed closely in 4th and 5th places overall. Sophomore Shannon Rich improved a place over last year's 9th place performance and Jonah Weeks, Paige Henker, Alyssa Flores and Colleen Joyce gave the Chico Ladies 8 of the Top-16 finishers. RS Frosh Amy Schnittger finished 23rd overall, while teammate Samantha Racine closed the 'Cats day with her 27th place run. Given that the Top-15 overall earn All-CCAA honors the Chico women claimed 7 of the individual prizes today with Joyce falling just a place shy of such distinction.

Men's 8,000m: The men's race started a bit conservatively on the hilly course and a large main pack of 15-20 hit the mile in roughly 5:04-5:09 with all Wildcats safely tucked into the mass. The plan for the top Chico guys was to run with the pack for the initial 2-2.5 miles up to the main hill, before some of the top guys would try to stretch the pack up the tough grade. The plan for the most part went as we'd hoped with Jimmy Elam and Brent Handa (who was running in the Chico uniform for the first time this season) already starting to crank up the intensity as the athletes left the clubhouse loop at 2 miles. The pack began to string out and Stanislaus' Joey Nunes (29:45 Wharf to Wharf 6mi credentials) was the only one game to follow the Chico duo. Elam, who is a transfer from Humboldt State, pressed up the half mile long hill and separated himself from Nunes and Handa. With 2 miles of running ahead, Jimmy kept the hammer down in an effort to win a CCAA title on his former home course. Nunes fell from the pace on the climb and the remainder of the run up front was like watching a Tuesday or Thursday tempo run in Chico. Brent chasing Jimmy through a beautiful setting with others following... Pomona's talented duo of Jersain Torres (CCAA 10k champ) and Matt Prentice (4th at JC State XC meet two years ago) pulled into the 3-4 spots in the final miles and Chico's Beau Rogers and Michael Wickman followed somewhat closely throughout. The hilly climate wasn't to Wickman's liking as much, so he held on the best that he could as Gradone-Rogers fought to catch the Pomona guys ahead. Brendan Scanlon, who's had a rocky season to date, looked good from the outset on Saturday cruising among the top 10 throughout as he battled with some scrappy opponents from Pomona. Working his way through the pack also was Chico's Alan Campos. The junior from El Rancho HS in Pico Rivera, CA started on the conservative side, and moved up through the pack with each mile. Although his eventual 10th place finish was a bit off his surprising 7th place run of '08 Campos enjoyed a very nice outing. With a very consistent and hard push to the finish Elam would record his first CCAA title, while also becoming the 'Cats most recent individual champ of this competition. Handa made the most of his debut in the Chico uniform as he held on for a nice second place effort. Torres would just hold off the hard charge of Chico's Beau Gradone-Rogers who would finish 4th overall. Pomona's prentice would cross next and Michael Wickman and Brendan Scanlon would give stop the 'Cats scoring with their 6,7 place finishes. As mentioned earlier, Alan Campos would finish 10th and teammates Joey Kochlacs, Alex Sharp and Adrian Sherrod would each earn their first All CCAA honors with their

L-R Kara, Alia, and Julie start the big climb toward the 3 mile mark

L-R Alyssa Flores, Jonah Weeks and Paige Henker battle up the climb with Stanislaus and LA runners.

13,14,15 place finishes. Senior teammate Thomas Whitcomb was unfortunately the first athlete to miss All CCAA honors due to an untimely bad race. To Thomas' credit though, the race had begun to unfold for him before the half way point, and he still held on gamely while finishing 16th. He can also be commended on only allowing 6 athletes Not wearing the Wildcat maroon to beat him to the line. A very nice day for the Wildcat men who added to their very respectable CCAA streak (8 in a row!) Next up: Saturday November 7, 2009-West Region Championships in Golden Gate Park-SF, CA. Races will start in Speedway Meadow at 9:00am and 10:00am Top 3 men's and Top 4 women's teams will advance to the NCAA Championships in Indiana two weeks following.

Random shot of the Chico men in the starting stretch (Beau G-Rogers 160, Brent Handa 161, Alex Sharp, Brendan Scanlon 164, Alan Campos w/ headband)

Men's and Women's CCAA Champs-Post Race