Wildcats win both races at Patrick Point scenic opener Gray, Costales lead the way at rugged Humboldt Invitational

By Gary Towne, Chico State head coach Saturday September 10, 2011

The entire team post race about 150m from our parking spot at the course. Very Beautiful!.

Arcata, California -- It was another beautiful season-opener for the Chico State Cross Country teams in more ways than one. Competing in the redwood forests of Patrick’s Point State Park with spectacular ocean views provided beauty that all competitors couldn’t help but enjoy. Add, two 15 point efforts by the Chico State teams, and you had the makings of quite an enjoyable weekend. The ‘Cats topped off the perfect scoring runs with an evening cheering their Chico State Volleyball team to victory over the Lumberjacks, and the next morning an amazing long run on the famous “Tall Trees/Ladybird Johnson Trail”. All in all it was quite a weekend, that brought 50 hard working athletes even more together as we approach the coming meets together. The courses: The course at Patrick’s Point is quite an interesting route, looping through the campground that’s situated just off the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Most of the course was run on rolling paved roads that circle the different parts of the campground. One exception was a “rim trail” section that offered views of the Pacific And two spots that were almost more of an obstacle-course obstruction, than what you’d expect to see on an XC course.

The first was a 4 ft vertical drop off as runners exited a road stretch and onto the rim trail. The trail almost immediately falls about 4 feet with just a few dirt steps that have been carved by trail workers. Too much momentum coming into this would cause air-time that could result in a tough landing for sure. About 100m beyond the drop, was it’s twin, the 5 foot vertical “wall” which was steeper and also with small dirt steps carved into the sandstone surface of the wall. Both races (men’s and women’s) went through this stretch twice, which created an interesting twist in strategy and coordination. Thankfully we only had a few athletes who didn’t stay on their feet the entire run and even those who did find the ground with something other than their feet, turned out to be OK.

Brooke Bergesen (11), Katie Spencer (24) and Shannon Rich (22) work together in the mid stages of the race. Bergesen has enjoyed a huge improvement curve this year.

Emily Stickney (25) debuting for the ‘Cats, with teammate Paige Henker at her side. Red shirting frosh Lora James follows several strides back.

Women’s Race:The women’s race was first to run and the Wildcat women established a solid early tempo, knowing that things would turn into a walk just past the mile mark, as folks slowed the pace near the “wall” area. By the 2k mark the lead pack was whittled down to 4. Humboldt alum (10:30 steeple runner) Megan Rolland, local phenom 13-year-old Chloe Pigg and Chico’s Alia Gray and Amy Schnittger had separated them selves from the chase and it appeared that the eventual champion would come from this quartet. By 2 miles Rolland/Gray/Pigg had put several strides on the tiring Schnittger, who’s taken some nice strides forward this year after ending the ’10 season as the ‘Cats #8 runner. As the leaders appeared with 300m remaining in the race, it was great to see two ‘Cats jerseys appear from the shadows first, (with Rolland 5-6 seconds back). Alia Gray (running in trainers) would cruise in for the win, with Schnittger running perhaps her best XC race ever to finish just a tick of the clock behind her 2 time All American teammate. Rolland would cross next, followed by Pigg.. then it was a Chico-train. Uniformed Chico runners Katie Spencer, Shannon Rich, and Brooke Bergesen would take 5th, 6th, and 7th, finishing the ‘Cats scoring for the day (15 points!). Red-shirting frosh Rebekah Bahra would take the next spot before the first Non Chico collegiate runner Piper Delaney (4:42 hs 1500m runner who runs for Monterey Bay) would hit the tape. After Delaney, 10 more Chico affiliated runners would cross the line before the next collegiate runner. This was a dominating effort. <

Eventual Champ Anthony Costales made things look as easy as 1,2,3 ;) as he runs with teammate Dayne Gradone in the early-going.

RS Frosh and first time uniform wearers Jeremy Brummitt (120) and Kevin Svahn power to eventual 9/10 finishes.

Men's Race: The Men’s race was much like the women’s, only more dominant. After an initial 2 mile that saw the Humboldt guys attempt to break up the Chico pack near the front, the ‘Cats asserted their strength over the final kilometers of the Patrick’s Point layout. Leading the way at the front was Anthony Costales a senior transfer from American River College and Fairfield HS alum. Costales looked quite controlled operating among the leaders and in the final mile, took a commanding lead. RS Frosh teammate Johnny Sanchez looked well beyond his years as he separated himself from Humboldt Track Club athlete, Austin Huff (a sub 31min 10k guy). As the women had done earlier, Chico would take the top 2 spots while a HTC athlete would take third overall. In the men’s race though, the ‘Cats would take places 4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10! Before Humboldt’s #1 Joe Ostini found the tape, just missing a Top-10 award. After Ostini, 7 more ‘Cats hit the tape (counting a few red shirting frosh) before Humboldt Alum Eric Malain crossed the finish. Overall this was a very solid showing for what is perhaps the deepest team in our men’s team’s history. Next up for the ‘Cats will be the Stanford Invitational in 2 weeks. Of course this will provide a completely different platform for the Chico crew to evaluate their fitness and toughness. From what I’ve seen thus far, they appear to be up to the challenge. Stay tuned and thanks for the support!

The men’s crew post-race

Approaching the finish area, Wildcat Kevin Svahn out kicks Humboldt State's top finisher Joe Ostini. Cheering the runners on are Lady Cats Michelle Johnson, Amy Schnittger, Kelly Upson and Olivia Guadiana, in this slightly skewed image from the Humboldt State web site.