Double 5 for the Wildcats at NCAAs Chavez, Sherrod & would you believe Sara Mikesell come home All-Americans

By Gary Towne, Chico State head coach Saturday, November 19, 2012

Sara Mikesell enjoying her best race EVER with 800m remaining, beating everyone pictured here except the blonde partially blocked by a blurry Tiffany Dinh to finish 14th, the womens team's only All-American this year.

JOPLIN, MO -- In the past 11 years twenty two NCAA XC championship races have been contested (counting both genders of course). Out of these 22 races, the Chico State Wildcats have now placed among the Top-5 in fifteen of these championship runs. On Saturday each Wildcat squad scored fifth place finishes in the 32-team fields respectively. For the men the fifth place run was a bitter-sweet performance. Usual #4 man Aaron Thomas had come down with a nasty norovirus on Thursday before the race, unable to hold down any food or fluids for a 24 hour period. With Thomas ailing and usual #7 Jeremy Brummitt sporting a boot after breaking his foot in the regional, the ‘Cats missed a fourth place trophy by a single point. . On the women’s side Sara Mikesell (our 9-10 runner a year ago) ran perhaps the most impressive NCAA run ever by a Wildcat while passing 31 athletes over the final 3k stretch to notch an unthinkable 14th place finish. All in all it was another exciting day of NCAA racing and the ‘Cats have much to be proud of as they reflect on the season’s grand finale

Men’s 10k Championship: (note: I’m guessing the course was closer to 6mi than 10k for those who are keeping score at home) Given the additional athletes in the NCAA field this year (32 teams vs 24) and a course that narrows after an initial 500m start stretch, both races went out at a ridiculous pace from the front. This quick start caused some problems for the Wildcat men. Isaac Chavez placed himself perfectly on the heels of a lead pack in about 12-15th place in the early going, but his closest teammates (Adrian Sherrod, Alfonso Cisneros, Dayne Gradone and Johnny Sanchez followed some 60-70 places behind at the 2k mark. Of course there was a solid 8k of running ahead, but a LOT of work was needed to be done by the ‘Cats, to challenge for a trophy, given the early placement. As the race skirted through the rolling and looping terrain of the Joplin course, the relatively buried Chico group did start to make some progress through the 250 runner field. Although Isaac Chavez looked a bit off his game at the front, he fought hard to stay close to the lead pack. At 5k Adrian Sherrod ran in 48th position, with teammates Alfonso Cisneros (70th), Johnny Sanchez (74th) and Dayne Gradone in 80th. The ailing Aaron Thomas was in 111th, while Alan Cuevas followed a few places behind. Yours truly feared that our streak of Top-10 finishes might be stretched with the way things were looking with a tough 5k loop ahead. Thankfully the final loop brought some forward movement by the ‘Cats, and while other teams unraveled a bit at the front, the ‘Cats clawed their way through the field. Despite running the second half mostly between packs Isaac Chavez moved up 5 spots in the second 5k of the race, eventually finishing 13th overall. Adrian Sherrod the team’s only senior passed an impressive 21 runners on his way to finishing 27th overall. Looking at Adrian’s finish more closely shows just how close athletes finish at the NCAA meet. Only 2.7 seconds separated Sherrod from matching his 19th place finish from a year ago.

Isaac Chavez became the ‘Cats first 3-time Top-15 finisher ever with his 13th place run Saturday.

Also doing some big work over the final 5k was Alfonso Cisneros who moved up 20 places en route to his eventual 50th place NCAA debut. Dayne Gradone had also lopped an impressive 20 places off his score as he would finish 60th respectively, while teammate Johnny Sanchez ending the ‘Cats scoring with his 70th place finish. Despite his illness Aaron Thomas managed to move through 8 runners during the second half himself, while finishing a very respectable 102nd overall. Alan Cuevas who ran with Thomas until the .5 mile to go mark, picked up a nasty side cramp and fell back 40+ spots in less than 3 minutes of running, while finishing 149th eventually. All told the men’s scoring 5 had lopped off an impressive 70 points from their 5k preliminary scoring total, which left them in the hunt for scoring a trophy. Unfortunately though as the final team scores were announced the ‘Cats had come up just 1 point shy of what was needed for a trophy finish. As mention previously, it was a bitter sweet finish, but the Chico men had fought hard, and ran a heck of a race despite having some very unfortunate luck go their way in the lead up to the race.

Post race quotes (courtesty of Luke Reid - Chico State Sports Information Director): “I was shocked we were that close to a trophy (top-four finish) given the carnage that was happening,” said Wildcats Head Coach Gary Towne. “On a day we didn’t feel like we were at our best we are still a top-five team in the country and that’s pretty amazing.” “It’s bittersweet,” said Sherrod of his final collegiate cross country competition as the team’s lone senior. “The team didn’t do as well as we wanted, but it’s amazing still that we could have a bad day like that and still finish in the top five in the nation. It also feels sweet to be a two-time All-American.” Sherrod placed 19th at last year’s NCAA Championships and is now one of only eight Wildcats with two All-America medals. “I’m very proud of Adrian from an athletic standpoint and also from a leadership standpoint,” said Towne. “He’s been willing to say things some people might have been afraid to say. He’s done a lot for the program on the course and outside of that realm with his leadership. It’s fitting that he was a big part of our solid day today.” “Even though he was a bit under the weather, he (Isaac Chavez) battled out there and stuck with it,” said Towne. “He never threw in the towel and kept engaged enough to stick in that top 15, which really helped us.” With all of the team’s other top runners returning, Sherrod is expecting big things from the Wildcats in 2013. Saturday’s top three teams each lose at least two seniors to graduation. “It wasn’t the finish we dreamed of considering that we had expectations to have the best season in school history,” admitted Sherrod. “Those expectations won’t be lower next year. There’s a huge group of seniors and they’re going to go after it. I can just imagine these guys doing something amazing next year.”

Women’s 6K Championship: Much like the men’s race, the women’s run went out quite quick, and the Chico women settled into solid positioning in the early going. Spearheading the Wildcat attack was Ayla Granados who ran among the top 30-40 by the mile, with teammates Amy Schnittger following some 15-20 places back. Paige Henker and Sara Mikesell worked together through the mile mark in the 70-80’s range with Jessica Varela not far behind. With many numbers running within a short proximity, the ‘Cats were positioned well, assuming they could work through the field, as they had in the regional two weeks previous. At 3k (half way) Ayla Granados ran in 28th position, but her body language showed the strain of a tough race, and she was no longer moving through the field. Amy Schnittger and Sara Mikesell ran together at 3k in 45th and 46th places, and Paige Henker and Jessica Varela followed in 66th and 72nd. Places had been made up, but faces told different stories of which direction each might be taking over the final kilometers. Like Granados ahead, Paige Henker and to some degree Amy Schnittger looked a bit too far from their normal comfort zones for this stage of the race. Sara Mikesell and Jessica Varela looked composed and full of run for the second half. Having not seen the athletes since the 3.5k mark I was absolutely shocked to see the familiar stride of Sara Mikesell running in a pack of women that included CCAA Champ Bridget Berg and Regional Runner-up Tiffany Dinh with 800m remaining in the race. Still looking in full control Mikesell had moved to within striking distance of the top-15, and looked to be moving away from Dinh and Berg. With nothing to lose Mikesell hammered through the final stretch and hit the line 14th overall. The finish tied the best ever in the school’s history (for the women) and would earn her All American honors (and the special trophy the NCAA bestows upon Top-15 finishers). Ayla Granados and Amy Schnittger hit the line in 46th and 47th respectively. Running a solid race throughout was soph. Jessie Varela who scored a 63rd place finish. Battling a mid race side stitch and a tough final stretch run, Paige Henker held on to stop the ‘Cats scoring with her 80th place finish. Jonah Weeks and Bekah Bahra would struggle on this day with 111th and 135th place finishes respectively. As the women’s team scores were announced a sigh of relief was had, knowing that even on a tougher day for the crew, we’d still managed a Top-5 national finish. The 50+ Chico fans present celebrated two great performances.

Alfonso Cisneros and Johnny Sanchez working their way through the field in the early going.

Ayla Granados taking a turn around the 2k mark in the women’s race.

Post race quotes(courtesty of Luke Reid - Chico State Sports Information Director): “When I was considering Chico State I imagined how awesome it would be to accomplish what some of the women in this program have accomplished,” said Mikesell over a post-race bowl of Clam Chowder. “To be on that list now with those women I look up to and admire is really amazing.” Mikesell ran alongside teammate Amy Schnittger in 45th place at the midway point of the race. But when most of the field was trying to survive to the finish, Mikesell turned on the jets and moved up 31 places over the final three kilometers. “I knew it was going to hurt so I just embraced the pain,” said Mikesell. “My goal was to be top 40 so I knew I had to make up some ground. I put it all out there.” “She continues to amaze me. A year ago she was arguably our number nine or 10 runner – at best eight,” said Wildcats Head Coach Gary Towne. “She just ran a very mature race. She locked into a good solid rhythm and held that throughout.” All Americans: Due to their Top-40 finishes Isaac Chavez, Adrian Sherrod and Sara Mikesell earned All American honors. This was Chavez’ third such honor, joining Scott Bauhs, and Pat Boivin in this elite category. Sherrod earned his second All American award, and Sara Mikesell would bring home her first such medal. Men’s NCAA Streak: For the men it was their 9th top-5 finish in the past 11 years, and thirteenth straight Top-9 finish. Women’s NCAA Streak: The women have finished among the nations top-10, eleven straight seasons now, and have earned 6 top-five finishes during this stretch.

Pre Race shot of the Wildcat Fans circling the men’s team while they did their pre-race cheer. Yes 35 brave student athletes made the trek to Joplin to support their teammates!

The Chico crew post-race at the Joplin sign