Isaac Chavez wins as Chico State men dominate at NCAA West Regional
Women, despite early race deficit, nearly prevail over Alaska Anchorage

By Gary Towne, Chico State head coach
Saturday November 9, 2013

Spokane, WA -- The Chico State Harriers enjoyed another solid weekend of racing as the two squads competed in the 2013 West Regional Championships in Spokane, Washington. The men raced to their tenth regional victory in 12 years, while the women came up just 3 points shy of upsetting the #1 ranked Alaska Anchorage squad. Of course both groups easily placed among the top 5 teams, which earned berths into the NCAA Championships to be held on the same course in two weeks. For the men, Saturday's effort would secure the program's fifteenth straight NCAA Championship trip, and for the women Saturday would mark their fourteenth in a row. Both squads were excited to once again represent Chico State well on the regional stage.

Women's 6K: Predictably the women's race went out excessively hard and as we've done in a number of races this season, the better percentage of the Chico women spotted much of the field quite a few places. As I look at photos taken at the 1k mark both Simon Fraser and Alaska Anchorage had 4 athletes running in a 20ish person lead pack. CCAA Champ Ayla Granados was the 'Cats lone representative among the 20 person lead group. CCAA Runner-up Sara Mikesell ran around 30th with 5k remaining and no less than 4 Western Washington women surrounded the 'Cats #2 at this point in the race. The remainder of the 'Cats ran between 50th-70th at this early checkpoint. One thing was certain, there was much work to be done in the coming miles, or else the Wildcat women risked not qualifying to NCAA's.

True to form the Chico women slowly began to march through the field as the many over-zealous athletes started to feel the reality of the deceivingly difficult all grass course. As the course completed it's first full 3k loop the lead pack had dwindled down to 6 with Alaska's Kenyan duo Susan Tanui (NCAA XC Runner-up in '12) and Joyce Kipchumba leading the way. Chico's Granados, who'd missed some training in the weeks between CCAA's and regionals due to some calf issues, ran tough next to Simon Fraser's Lindsey Butterworth.

 
The 'Cats #2 Sara Mikesell had moved up into 14th place and was working through groups like a heated knife through butter. Also on an impressive roll was Sophomore Bekah Bahra who ran around 25th at the half-way point, but looked full of life. Sadie Gastelum and Jessie Varela also looked strong as they passed one athlete after another. Senior Hayley Swanson and frosh Haley Kroll worked together through the middle kilometers as well, and now the 'Cats were looking like a team heading to the NCAA meet.

The second half of the race saw a lowering team score with every kilometer covered. Granados would be dropped as the lead pack splintered over the final 3k, but her strength shone through as the senior hung tough eventually finishing 5th overall. Sara Mikesell would match her 2012 regional finish, with her 7th place showing today. Perhaps the biggest run by the Chico crew was that of Bahra who closed well for an 11th place All Region finish. Another strong race was registered by frosh Sadie Gastelum who fought hard down the final straight, knowing that points and places were very tight. Gastelum would hit the tape 26th overall, missing All Region honors by less than a second. Perhaps the fastest final kilometer registered by any of the 'Cats was that of Haley Kroll (also a frosh) who put the hammer down on at least 10 competitors in the final stretch. Despite putting five across the line before Alaska had, the AK 1-2 punch proved to be too much for the 'Cats who would fall just 3 points shy of defending their regional title. For their efforts Granados, Mikesell and Bahra would all earn All West Region honors for the second straight year.

 
Men's 10K: The men's 10k was a bit of a mixed bag for the Wildcat men. The lead four of Isaac Chavez Johnny Sanchez, Dayne Gradone and Alfonso Cisneros enjoyed a very complete and solid effort. The remaining three Chico men struggled with the mental side of stepping up to the 10k distance.

From the gun all seven of the 'Cats were well placed among the top 25 of the field, with 6 running in the top 15 by the ½ mile mark. Soon after though, CCAA Champ Aaron Thomas starting falling through the field and by the ten minute mark was off the lead pack and into a chase group. Early on it was another Chico/Alaska duel at the front as Chico had 5 in the lead group at the mile, but AK had #'s 4/5 running just off this group at the same point of the race. By the completion of the first loop the lead pack had dwindled to 6 with UAA's Dylan Anthony (a Chico transfer) Cal Baptist' Bryton Reim (24:10 @ Santa Clara Inv), Western Washington's Chip Jackson, and Chico's trio of Isaac Chavez, Dayne Gradone and Johnny Sanchez. With AK's Isaac Kangogo and Victor Samoei off the lead group and their 4,5 fading off the chase pack, the 'Cats had control of the eventual win with 6k to go.

As eventual champ Isaac Chavez extended his already long stride and made a decisive move for the win at 4k, Johnny Sanchez followed suit and now the 'Cats ran 1-2 with Dayne Gradone dueling with WWU's Chip Jackson for third position. Although he had started a big sluggish Alfonso Cisneros moved forward through the field and now ran on the heels of AK's Victor Samoei. With Dylan Anthony falling behind this pair, the 'Cats now had 4 in front of AK's 2nd runner. During the second half of the race Isaac and Johnny did a remarkable job of running solo in 1st and 2nd positions in the field, and by 6k Dayne Gradone had made his break from Jackson, giving the 'Cats a potential 1-3 sweep. Alfonso (Fonz) hammered away with Samoei as the two eventually dispatched CBU's 24:10 guy Reim.

 
As the 'Cats four enjoyed eventual top-6 finishes, #'s 5,6,7 struggled with the 10k distance. Phil Graber who'd been a part of the 'Cats CCAA sweep had started well, but gradually slid from one group to the next, falling at one point outside the Top-25 overall. Teammate Aaron Thomas who'd won the CCAA title two weeks previous struggled even more falling back to 30th eventually. Teammate Alex McGuirk who'd started more conservatively than his teammates, never seemed to be engaged in the race and struggled to an eventual 47th place finish.

Despite handling the regional title with relative ease, the Wildcat men will certainly have to tighten their pack back up during the NCAA Championship if they are to contend for a trophy. With the title Isaac Chavez joins Pat Boivin and Scott Bauhs as the only Chico athletes to have won the West Region individual crown. Isaac also became the only Wildcat to place among the top-5 in all four regional championship races that he's competed in.

Next up: The NCAA Championships will take place on Saturday Nov. 23 in Spokane, WA. Both squads will look to extend their 10 year streak of Top-10 finishes.. But to be honest the real goal will be to challenge for the trophies that are earned with Top-4 finishes. Stay Tuned!