Ontario, CA -- I'm pleased to report that the Chico State men's and women's cross country teams have repeated as CCAA Cross Country Champions. Running in hot conditions at Guasti Regional Park in Ontario, CA the Wildcats earned their 15th straight (men) and 9th straight (women) CCAA titles in convincing fashion. In looking at the past 15 editions of these championships the Wildcats have now won 28 of the 30 CCAA championship runs. It's been a wild and unbelievable ride, and Saturday's performances will go down as two of the very best in this long streak of success. Before diving into the details I would like to thank all of the parents, friends, and alumni who trekked out to Guasti this weekend to support the Wildcats. I would also like to thank everyone reading this note who has supported us through the years. Our consistency and success has been a product of unparalleled support over the past several decades. Thank you all for helping us to where we are today.
Men's Championship 8k:
For those paying attention the past 3-4 years, Cal Poly Pomona has been putting together a very stout men's cross country program. Coach Wes Ashford has done a wonderful job recruiting and developing his men, and grooming them for running well on the highest stages. Several weeks ago Pomona nearly upset their sister Poly school in SLO by taking second overall at the Stanford Invite. Their team average was a very swift 24:01 for the "8k" course. Pomona would be led by Senior Mark Huizar (14:12 5k credentials on the track, and 23:47 @ Stanford XC) and Christian Rodriguez (23:47 @ Stanford XC) and a trio of 14:13-14:30 guys to follow. Of course the Chico men had enjoyed a great season of their own to date having gone undefeated through the regular season, including a big win at the Sacramento Challenge Cross Country race, where they defeated Arizona State and a good number of other DI's.
With temperatures climbing into the 80's by the 10:00am start time, none of the field seemed too interested in forcing the early pace, and a large pack hit the mile in a modest 4:55 clip. All of the 'Cats were positioned well in the early going, as was Pomona of course. As the pack headed out for their second of four 2k loops, Chico's Will Reyes and Connor Fisher ran at the front, looking very relaxed and controlled. During the second circuit the large front group began to string out and a good portion of the 'Cats 10 man line-up were still running among a now strung out lead pack.
As athletes passed the half way point Will Reyes took the front for good and now the race was truly on. Surprisingly enough only Chico's Connor Fisher dared to go with Reyes' move initially and the pack strung out behind. Reyes quickly gapped the field, and Pomona's Huizar caught and ran with Fisher as the two covered the third loop. Falco DiGiallonardo ran in fourth place through the third lap with a string of athletes behind, including Chico's #4 Arturo Arevalo. Pomona's #2 also ran in this group, but the remainder of their pack now ran behind Chico's 5/6/7 runners, and body language didn't look good for the Broncos.
The 'Cats did a superb job of finishing off the race in the final loop. Reyes would sail to his second straight CCAA title (Making him the 9th straight Chico victor in the men's race), while Fisher strong final circuit would drop Huizar (who faded to 11th) and maintain enough cushion over UCSD's Tareq Alwafai for an eventual runner-up finish. UCSD's Tareq Alwafai (24:14 @ UC Riverside this year) would pass Falco for third, while Falco would finish well to give the 'Cats three of the top-4 finishers. SF State's Drew Feldman (3rd in '14 CCAA race) would place fifth and the 'Cats would shut the door on the team competition by placing Arturo Arevalo and Kyle Medina across the line in the next two spots. Steven Martinez would place 9th overall just in front of Pomona's #1 finisher Christian Rodriguez. Aaron Mora would place 12th earning his fourth straight All CCAA XC award, while teammate Steven Velarde would grab the final All CCAA spot with his 15th place effort. Nick Valenzuela (18th) and Chris Kigar (28th) would conclude the 'Cats day with their solid runs.
Overall it was another stellar day at the CCAA office for the Wildcat men who found a way to make a tough race look remarkably easy. Now their focus will turn to the pursuit of a regional title in Montana where they will be up against a determined Pomona team and a talented Alaska Anchorage group. Stay tuned!
Women's 6k Championship:
It's been a very interesting year for the Chico State women's team. Defending CCAA Champion McCall Habermehl has been dealing with a stubborn case of IT band syndrome since her two week break from track, and a number of her teammates have also had recurring injuries or sicknesses that have limited their ability to race consistently or at a high level. As a result a very promising group of young women have slipped into unfamiliar rankings territory (currently ranked #9 in the NCAA). On Saturday the 'Cats would Finally at least have all of the top pieces of their puzzle on the same start line together for the first time this season. It was worth the wait, what unfolded was a thing of beauty.
If one was to have watched the women's race unfold from the outside and without knowing much about our team, they might have thought that we had a secret plan that worked to perfection. Truth be told, we did have a plan and it did work quite well, but the race didn't play out quite as this coach might have expected.
From the gun Wildcat Alex Burkhart seized the lead of the race and created a very honest tempo. The move caught much of the field by surprise, and by the time the pack ran by yours truly at 1k the Wildcats ran in the following positions overall. Burkhart (1st and in a pack of 6 leaders), Karlie Garcia (8th chasing lead pack but 35m behind), Sadie Gastelum (23rd and part of a large and strung out group). The remaining 'Cats ran between 35th and 45th overall, but were within striking distance of the top spots as they approached the hot 5k ahead.
As the leaders finished their first of three 2k loops the lead pack had increased in size with Karlie Garcia having joined the group. Sadie had made up some big distance and places, now running in 9th overall and just a few strides behind the main pack ahead. The remaining 'Cats had also made up 10+ places each as well and the 'Cats now appeared much closer to the drivers seat of the race, than they had just 1k before.
The second loop brought more good news for the 'Cats. While Burkhart lost the lead group, Gastelum joined them, and several others who had followed Alex' early charge were now paying the price. Thankfully Alex' toughness and fitness held her positioning among the top-7-8 overall throughout the race.. which wasn't the case with several of those who were in the initial 6 person lead pack.
At the 4k mark the lead pack was now down to three, with pre-race favorite Laura Aceves of San Bernardino being joined by 'Cats Sadie Gastelum and Karlie Garcia. Not one to wait for a kick finish Garcia had kept the pace quite honest at the front through the entire second loop, and the result was a slow destruction of the group. Also doing some amazing work behind were true frosh Nora Pizzella and Junior Hannah Dorman. The pair worked together throughout and were now operating among the top 15 overall, with teammate Haley Kroll just behind. Not to be left out in the forward movement department was Kayden Carpenter who was now running in the Top-20 overall and looking quite poised with 2k to go.
The final 2k brought more great news to the forward-charging Wildcats who took advantage of the overzealous starts of many of those around them. Although Aceves would spring away from Karlie and Sadie over the final mile, the pair would sail to the finish in 2nd and 3rd places, well clear of their nearest pursuer Natalie Rodriguez (3 time CCAA Athlete of the Week). Alex Burkhart did a superb job of damage control while holding on to fifth place just ahead of 35 minute 10k gal Raelyn Werley of San Marcos who finished 6th. The Wildcats would take the next three spots as Nora Pizzella, Hannah Dorman and Haley Kroll would take places 7,8 and 9, ending the 'Cats scoring before most teams' first runner had crossed. Kayden Carpenter was the seventh 'Cat to cross the finish with her 13th place effort, and teammate Camila Turati would miss the All CCAA team by just 2 spots with her 17th place run.
Perhaps the only "tough" run of the day (for the 'Cats) was that of McCall Habermehl, as the defending champion struggled in with a 35th place finish. The rough finish was definitely no fault of her own though as she's fought hard to gain fitness through cross training and running on an injured knee, but the reality is that it's been a bittersweet final cross country campaign for the senior.
Rounding out the 'Cats performers was RS Frosh Desirae Jones who finished 40th overall.
As we reflect on the women's performance, there's a lot to be optimistic about. A year ago our women (who went on to place 4th at the NCAA meet) won the CCAA race with 38 points. Our 7th runner a year ago placed 23rd in the CCAA, and this year our seventh was 13th overall. It's only one race, but this team is coming together just at the right time. Stay tuned as the 'Cats turn their sights toward a hopeful repeat as West Region Champions and 17th straight NCAA berth.
Next Up: the 'Cats will head to Montana St. Billings where they will tackle the West Region Championships on Saturday Nov. 5. The men will enter the regionals ranked #1, while the women are currently ranked #2 among the west. The top 5 men's teams will advance to the NCAA's in Florida, while the top-6 women's squads will move on to the big dance. Stay tuned!!
