Billings, MT -- Having just returned from our most recent regional championship held in Billings, Montana, I'm proud to announce that the Chico State Wildcat men's and women's cross country teams will once again be representing our school and community at the NCAA Championships. By virtue of their first and second place regional championship placings the Wildcats punched tickets to the big dance for the 16th and 15th straight years. The men turned what many (including myself) thought would be a nail biter, into a very convincing win, by placing 6 in the top 10 overall. The women lost a hard fought battle with former NAIA and current NCAA power Simon Fraser of BC, Canada. With the top-6 teams in each race advancing on to the NCAA Championships to be held on Dec. 6 in Louisville, KY, both squads easily move on together to the NCAA meet again.
Men's 10K Championship:
The goal for the Chico men was twofold. First, they wanted to compete well as a collective group. A year ago a veteran group of Chico runners were coming off a 1-6 sweep of the CCAA field, and two weeks later allowed a once tight team pack to become larger than a minute over the 10k distance. The second goal was simply to win. It's no secret that Alaska has some deep pockets, and they consistently bring in International talent from Kenya and other countries. It would be our goal as it is every year, to beat Alaska and to bring the regional title back to Chico.
It was evident from the start that the 'Cats came prepared to achieve these goals. From the gun all seven Chico men ran among the lead pack on the looping relatively flat soccer complex layout. With temps in the low 40's, and a stiff wind blowing hard into the faces of runners on one side of the 1.5 mile loop, this run would require some smart decision making along the way. Pre-race instructions included sitting in the pack and using others as able to break the wind on the windy side of the course. These instructions were followed perfectly by the 'Cats, minus the zealous start by 5th year senior Dillon Breen who pulled the field through the mile (into the wind) in an honest low 4:50's clip. Breen had been among the 'Cats Top-5-7 much of the season before having an awful CCAA Championship run, where he placed 35th. Initially Dillon hadn't made the regional roster, but the week of the regional race a teammate's (Brandon Taylor) injury gave Dillon a chance at redemption. Breen sailed through the mile looking like a runner on a mission. but his coach still yelled to him "Relaax Dillon!"
With each kilometer covered the lead pack dwindled and one by one the Anchorage runners would fall from the lead group, along with a few others who had initially tried their hand at the front. By the halfway point all seven 'Cats ran among the front group that now looked to be only 13-14 strong. With Alaska having only 3 of the runners in the group, and with the Chico men talking with one another, yours truly was surprisingly quite relaxed and confident that the guys were well on their way to a convincing victory.
Barron Maizland was the first 'Cat to be shaken from the lead group, as he fell off the pace during the fourth mile. Around the same point of the race former Chico State runner Dylan Anthony (who now runs for Alaska Anchorage) also fell from the front, leaving Anchorage with just two representatives in the front group.
By 8k the lead group was down to just 9. The six Chico men, the two Alaska Anchorage athletes, and Pomona's Mark Huizar (2nd at last week's CCAA Championship). As his coach screamed at him to "Go Now!" Alaska's Henry Cheseto (brother of former AK Regonal Champ Marko Cheseto) did just that, leaving the field in his wake. The Cheseto move shook up the lead group as the Chico guys, along with Huizar tried to decide if they should give chase from so far out. No one committed initially to the bold move, but the front group still would gradually splinter over the final mile.
Huizar and Alaska's Dominik Notz, and Chico's Johnny Sanchez would break away into a small chase pack of sorts. With the team race in hand, the Chico guys weren't overly concerned with any moves in front as Notz and Huizar would end up duking it out to the line. Cheseto would hit the tape first, and Notz would outsprint Huizar for second. Next came a dominating display, as the 'Cats would place their 5 scorers in the following 5 positions. RS Frosh Kyle Medina who has a VERY bright future ahead of him (1:50/3:50/14:33 track PR's from his true frosh spring season) would run in with teammate Johnny Sanchez (4th/5th respectively). Sophomore Nick Grubiss would finish next, while Alex McGuirk and Aaron Mora would finish the 'Cats scoring with 7th and 8th place finishes. Although he would be caught and passed in the final straightaway Dillon Breen would finish with a Huge smile on his face as the senior would cross the line 10th, just two weeks after the 35th place disaster at conference. Sweet redemption for Breen who certainly made the most of his first & last opportunity at the regional championships. The only casualty on the day for the 'Cats was Barron Maizland who struggled with stomach issues during the second half of the race. He would still finish a respectable 33rd place, missing All West Region honors by only 10 seconds.
With the win the 'Cats would take their 11th regional crown in the past 13 runs. By virtue of their Top-25 finishes Johnny Sanchez, Kyle Medina, Nick Grubiss, Alex McGuirk, Aaron Mora and Dillon Breen would earn All West Region honors. Sanchez became the fifth 'Cat in the history of the program to earn the honor in each of his 4 years, joining an elite group of former 'Cats. Medina, Grubiss, Mora, and Breen would earn the honor in just their first regional competition. Another impressive statistic was the miniscule 6 second spread between the 'Cats 1-5, making this effort right up there with some of the great regional runs of the past. Now the Wildcat men will turn their focus on the NCAA Championships where bringing home a trophy is again THE goal.
Women's 6K Championship:
Having watched the men defend their team title, the women were motivated to earn their own such honor. If the Chico women were to win the race, they would need to have a similar race as they had leading up to the championships. Lacking the low finishing sticks that most of the other top teams would have at the front, the 'Cats understood the need for a tight pack-finish. Yours truly figured that if the ladies could hold a sub 30 second 1-5 spread, their chances would be great of taking home the title.
As the race started the Chico women collectively did a good job of putting themselves into early position. Team leader Quetta Peinado operated among the top 20 overall looking controlled through the first kilometer. True frosh Camila Turati followed closely by teammates Lora James, Olivia Watt, Alex Burkhart and Sadie Gastelum. Surprisingly 2 time All Region Bekah Bahra had placed herself well back in the field, and had a lot of work to do to make her way closer to the action at the front.
An unexpected setback appeared for the 'Cats near the mid point of the race when junior Olivia Watt (2:10/4:28 track PR's) pulled off the course. Unknown to the coaching staff, Watt had strained her hamstring during one of her final pre-race strides, and the angry muscle was tightening with each stride. Now with 6 on the course, and a two time All Region runner operating in the 60's overall, the 'Cats needed some big help to catch up with a strong running Simon Fraser squad.
My last words to Quetta before the race was to relay the fact that she hadn't run her best race of the season Yet, and Quetta would prove this point well. The junior methodically moved her way up into the Top 10 as the race evolved and looked calm and collected throughout. A place was given back to Central Washington's Dani Eggleston over the final kilometer, but Peinado would hit the finish 11th overall, and before any other CCAA runner (she took 6th at the CCAA champs 2 weeks previous).
Running well beyond their years (or lack of them) were true frosh Camila Turati and Alex Burkhart, who did a splendid job of handling the pressures of regional championship competition. The pair would find the finish in 18th and 22nd respectively, each earning All West Region honors. Sophomore Sadie Gastelum had worked her way from 40's-50's early in the race, up to around 20th place by the 5k mark. Some places were given up in the final stretch, but Gastelum would hold on well to finish 24th securing her first All West Region honor.
With four across the line in the top 25, and given our usual 15-25 second split between 1-5 in a typical race, the odds looked good on paper for the 'Cats to take the title, but it just wasn't meant to be as our #5 Bekah Bahra would finish her toughest xc race to date 40 seconds behind our #4. Lora James, who's dealt with an assortment of physical issues since the regular season, also had fallen back out of contention, eventually placing 52nd overall. Despite having five across the finish before all squads in the field, the low sticks of Simon Fraser (two in the top-10), coupled with their #5 finishing just seconds behind Bahra left the 'Cats just 9 points shy of taking home the regional title.
The Chico women were fairly disappointed to learn that they had lost the title, but thankfully even on a sub-par day they had easily gained their 15th straight entry into the NCAA Championship. Four had earned All West Region honors (each for the first time in their careers). There was much to be thankful for, and although they had hoped to win, the 'Cats have already turned their attention toward the goal of extending their 12 year streak of Top-10 NCAA finishes. Here we come Louisville, KY!
