Redemption at Western Regionals, Wildcat men & women triumph Both claim hard fought victories over talent laden Alaska Anchorage squads

By Gary Towne, Chico State head coach Saturday, November 5, 2012

Down to the nitty gritty...the Men’s lead pack as it was down to 5...

OAHU, HI -- Hawaii is a beautiful place of course, but it’s even more beautiful and enjoyable when you’re carrying around two NCAA West Regional plaques. This weekend the Chico State Wildcats dethroned the reigning regional champion Alaska Anchorage squads by narrow margins in both races. No to be lost in the extremely exciting races, was the fact that the ‘Cats qualified on to the NCAA Championships (Together!) for the thirteenth straight year (dating back to 2000). In my pre-race write up I had mentioned all of the alumni that had wished Hawaii would have figured into their competition schedule during their time in the Wildcat jersey. As we ran in the Hawaii heat and humidity in the days leading up to the race, I wondered if Spokane might have been a better destination. With low temps in the 72 degree range and highs in the mid 80’s, the races would definitely be affected by the tougher than usual conditions. Of course a good portion of our toughest competition come from cooler climates than Chico, so we knew that despite less than ideal racing conditions, we wouldn’t have it as bad as some of the others in the field.

Men’s 10k Championship: The men’s 10k course consisted of four, 1.5 mile loops around a relatively quaint Kahuku Golf Course that sits along the north east shore of Oahu. The backstretch offered views of the ocean, and if the athletes were lucky, some faint ocean breezes to cool their bodies. Although the course was primarily flat there were a number of hills, including a solid 80meter rise that would challenge the athletes in the final laps. From the start, top athletes in the field seemed content to allow the pace to be relatively modest, as each respected the increased race distance and the heat and humidity. As the long line of athletes passed yours truly near the 2k mark, Chico’s Isaac Chavez led the charge, and all of the expected favorites in the field (including Chico and AK’s top 7) ran among the top group, that was initially around 30-40 strong.

The Chico Men rounding the corner at 4K with a view of a calm ocean, unusual for the windward side of Oahu.

The pace for the lead pack stayed relatively in check through the second and third laps, but victims of the pace peeled off with each revolution. As the pack came by at roughly 4 miles (nearing the end of the third revolution) Alaska had 4 in the group, but their fifth (Isaac Kangogo) ran several strides off the back. Chico had 4 in the front group as well, but their 5/6 runners (Dayne Gradone and Johnny Sanchez) ran in the places behind Kangogo about 10 seconds off the Kenyan’s pace. The 2012 regional title would come down to the final revolution, and the team champions would again come down to a duel within the race between Alaska and Chico. The pace quickened over the final loop and the lead pack split quickly and dramatically. Having not seen the leaders in more than a mile of running, I was completely elated to see a lead pack of 4 with 1k to go, with Alaska’s Chelimo, and Chico’s Adrian Sherrod, Alfonso Cisneros, and Isaac Chavez. The quartet appeared composed and ran with several seconds separation over Western Washington’s Dak Riek, who ran 10 seconds in front of Grand Canyon’s Sharles Simon. With Alaska’s #2 man Alfred Kangogo struggling to stay within the Top-10 at the 9k checkpoint, the team title appeared to be in hand for the ‘Cats, barring a complete collapse.

Thankfully this (a collapse) didn’t happen as Aaron Thomas ran solidly to an eventual 11th place finish, and teammates Dayne Gradone and Johnny Sanchez kept damage control in place while finishing 20th and 21st respectively. The only races the ‘Cats lost on the weekend were those for the individual wins. Defending regional champ Micah Chelimo showed the same closing speed that he had used to win the 2011 NCAA 5k title last spring to clock a 4 second win over Chico’s Adrian Sherrod. A year ago Alfonso Cisneros sat at home collecting regional results via the internet as the ‘Cats alternate. This year Cisneros hammered out a third place regional championship performance finishing just a few ticks behind teammate Sherrod, and a place ahead of fellow ‘Cat Isaac Chavez. Alaska’s #2 Kangogo would finish 10th, but Chico’s Thomas gave the ‘Cats 4 of the Top 11. Alaska’s 3,4,5 runners would take places 12, 13, and 14, but with Gradone and Sanchez just a few spots behind, the ‘Cats had secured the team title. The men have now won 9 of the past 11 regional titles and will make their 14th straight appearance at the NCAA Championships. Although the Chico men earned a hard fought win this weekend, then understand that it will take an improved effort to bring home hardware from the NCAA meet in two weeks. They appear quite prepared to take on this challenge though. Stay tuned!

Women’s 6k: The Chico women ran an amazingly mature race on Saturday while capturing a title that I wasn’t sure we had the guns to track down going into the race. No disrespect is meant to the women that we’d sent to the line on Saturday but Alaska’s women held some impressive credentials coming into this competition. They had taken 6 of the top 7 places in their conference meet the week before, and had won the region three straight years. Unlike the men’s race, the women’s version went out a bit more aggressively, as athletes fought for positioning early on. As the field passed yours truly at 2 kilometers, a lead pack of 7 had formed with just a few strides of separation between themselves and the next group of 7-8. Chico’s Ayla Granados looked strong running on the heels of Alaska’s Kenyan duo Susan Tanui and Meriam Kipng’eno, and along CCAA winner Bridget Berg. At this point Alaska had their entire team ahead of Chico’s #2, who came through 2k in around 30th position. The Chico women looked controlled as they headed toward the ½ way mark and collectively they seemed to be making up valuable places on runners ahead with each stretch of the course that was covered. Ayla ran among the lead group in fifth position, while Amy Schnittger sat in 18th position at the 2 mile point of the run. The rest of the ‘Cats followed within 10-15 seconds Alaska still had a huge lead if one were to score the race at the 2 mile point, but precious places were being taken up by the ‘Cats and those same places were being given up by some of the AK runners who had gotten out a bit too aggressively (especially considering the warm conditions). Leading the charge through the field was Sara Mikesell who a year ago was the ‘Cats 9-10 woman. Fresh off her 4th place CCAA finish Mikesell hammered the middle kilometers of the race, and looked full of run with a mile to go. The final stretch was a thing of beauty as Chico’s Ayla Granados hung with the lead pack and kicked hard, only losing to Alaska’s Tanui (10:13 steeple PR) and Pomona’s 3 time CCAA runner up Tiffany Dinh. Sara Mikesell would give the ‘Cats a solid #2 placing with her 7th place effort, and best friend Paige Henker would follow closely at 12th overall. Just a few ticks of the clock was Jessica Varela who would place 15th, and the ‘Cats scoring would conclude with frosh Rebekah Bahra’s 18th place run. Jonah Weeks (20th) and Amy Schnittger (22nd) would both finish ahead of Alaska’s fifth and final scorer, adding valuable points to the AK tally.

Mid race finds Chico’s Ayla Granados looking strong running tucked in behind Alaska’s Kenyan duo Susan Tanui and Meriam Kipng’eno, CCAA runner up Pomona's Tiffany Dinh with CCAA winner Humboldt's Bridget Berg.

A few meter back, the wildcat’s chase pack Amy Schnittger(91), Rebekah Bahra(84), Jonah Weeks(93) and Jessica Varela(92).

To be honest, the thought of even winning the team title hadn’t crossed my mind until it had sunk in at the conclusion of the race that the Chico women had poured their entire roster of 7 into the Top 22 overall. Some quick searching around in the scorers area confirmed what had seemed to be the impossible before the race. The Lady-‘Cats had indeed won the race (their fifth regional title in 10 years). Now the ‘Cats move on to the NCAA meet where they will try to add to their 10 straight years of finishing among the Top-10 at the National Championships. Post Race Note: The ‘Cats #7 man Jeremy Brummitt ran a gutsy effort on Saturday and was the only person on the ‘Cats roster between the two races not to receive All Region Honors. Brummitt collapsed at the finish completely spent and complaining of a painful foot that began to hurt with 2 miles remaining in the race. We just found out minutes ago that Jeremy had completely broken his foot during the race and had run the final 2 miles with the pain. A very gutsy effort indeed..and despite the break Jeremy finished just a few places out of All Region. Stay Tuned on NCAA news as we approach the 2012 Championships in Joplin next weekend.

2012 Regional Champions!

Regional Champs and All West Region (All 7!!)