Undefeated Chico State men run team course record in winning Triton Classic
Scrappy Wildcat women, relying on the youngsters, finish in the runnerup position

Saturday, October 8, 2016
Comments & photos by Gary Towne/Chico State Cross Country Coach

La Jolla, CA -- It was another epic So-Cal swing for the 'Cats this weekend as the Chico State XC squads enjoyed first and second place finishes at UC San Diego's Triton Invitational. The teams also managed some beach time with friends and family after the races, and detoured through Sequoia National Park on the way home while replicating past Wildcat post race long runs on the scenic High Sierra Trail. The trip was a doozy, with well over 1,000 miles logged in the vans, but lifetime memories were crafted along the way.

Men's 8k:: The goal for the Chico men would be to race for a team win, while not over extending themselves in the process. The 'Cats would be up against a UCSD squad that had placed 2nd overall in the DII race at the recent Griak Invite in Minnesota and a scrappy and talented Central Arizona Community college team led by the defending national champ Gilbert Kigen. Chico would be without Falco DiGiallonardo who took the week off of racing in preparation for the championship runs ahead.

As the race was underway it was evident that the undefeated Kigen and Chico's Will Reyes were ready to go toe to toe as the two blazed through the initial 2 miles well clear of the field. The Chico men placed themselves well in the early going, as several UCSD men ran in 3rd and 4th positions overall.

The UCSD course is not a forgiving one, as the athletes circuit through the hilly Eucalyptus forest twice during the 8k of racing. Talent and competitiveness can get one through the first circuit in good shape, but it's the second time through that really determines the outcome of the race. The Chico men did a masterful job of being patient in the early going, and really applying pressure in the second half of the run, and the result was another resounding team victory.

Up front Kigen would break Reyes with 2 miles to go on his way to crushing the course record by nearly a minute, while Will would finish strong with a swift 25:04 run of his own. Note: the previous course record (set by Chico's Alfonso Cisneros) was 25:40! Chico's Connor Fisher would close well to place third overall (25:24). Teammates Aaron Mora (25:41), Kyle Medina (25:41) and Arturo Arevalo (25:44) would conclude the 'Cats scoring with their 5/6/7th place finishes. Steven Martinez, Steven Velarde and Chris Kigar would also finish among the top 15 overall for good measure. Kigar's run was extra impressive given that he failed to even make the 'Cats initial travel roster this season, and now stands on the cusp of making the CCAA Championship squad.

In hindsight the men's results were quite promising for the 'Cats. Even running without DiGiallonardo the Chico men perfect-scored the UCSD men who were ranked 14th nationally in the most recent USTFCCCA polls. Arturo Arevalo (who'd been sick in Sacramento) looked much better, as did Steven Velarde and Chris Kigar. Despite a rare tough outing for 2015 All American Steven Martinez, the 'Cats head into CCAA's next week with great momentum and an undefeated record.

Women's 6k: : The Chico women's season to date has been quite interesting to say the least. Injuries, sickness, more injuries and more sickness seem to plague our women's group. The plan this week was to rest 2015 CCAA champ McCall Habermehl who's been dealing with a drawn out bout of IT band syndrome, and Karlie Garcia, who's returning to health. As the trip unfolded though, Alex Burkhart's sickness from the previous week intensified, thus forcing us to pull the plug on her Triton debut. Haley Kroll had planned to return to action after sitting out the Sac race last week with a hip issue, but this week brought a foot ailment that forces yours truly to pull her from the line-up just before race time.

Once again the 'Cats would be running without 4 potential scorers. This week they would face DII foes UCSD, Point Loma (ranked 3rd and 7th regionally), and defending team champs from last year's Triton Classic, CS San Bernardino. If the Wildcats were to win this one they would most likely need some help from the opposition, while also having a big day from some of their young and developing athletes.

The Chico women as a group didn't place themselves in a great positions overall in the first mile, as they surely would have been in third place had the race been scored at the early checkpoint. The good news for the Chico women was that the UCSD layout is a tough one, and an overzealous start can cause some bleeding of places in the later going.

Senior Sadie Gastelum, was one who did get out quite well and was on the heels of a talented front group that included Laura Aceves of Cal State San Bernardino, who's enjoyed a VERY impressive year of her own, Fresno Pacific's Courtney Moore, school record in the 800/1500, Point Loma's Hannah Bucher, another 800/1500 specialist recently transfered from Arizona State. As athletes raced through the early checkpoint it became apparent that Point Loma was on a mission to upset the field. No less than 4 of their women occupied spots inside the top-8 of the race and several others followed not far behind. The home team UCSD was a bit more scattered, but appeared to have a slight edge over the 'Cats.

RS frosh Jenny Giguere, who's enjoying a breakthrough season to date put herself out among the top-15 through the mile, running even with Point Loma's fifth runner. A pack of 'Cats followed not far behind as Kayden Carpenter (Fr), Nora Pizzella (Fr), Desirae Jones (Fr), Hannah Dorman (Jr) and Camila Turati (Jr) all operated among the top-20-25.

As the race developed Sadie moved into the fore of what had evolved into a 5 woman lead group. But with 2k remaining, Aceves (several times a CA JC State Champion) asserted herself at the front, breaking up the lead pack for good. Chico's Sadie Gastelum, although she couldn't handle Aceves' surge of pace, still managed to pull clear of everyone else as she would hold on nicely to a second place finish. Meanwhile further back Nora Pizzella was making up some ground on several of the Point Loma women, as were teammates Kayden Carpenter, and Desirae Jones and Hannah Dorman.

Point Loma athletes would take places 4/5, while UCSD would take 7/8 respectively. Frosh Nora Pizzella would pass and put 10 seconds on Point Loma's 3-4 runners as the Chico runner would place 11th overall and the PL gals-12-13. With four across the line before Chico's third Point Loma was now in the drivers seat for the title if their fifth could find the finish relatively soon. Chico's #3 Kayden Carpenter would split UCSD's 3/4 runners with her 15th place effort. Hannah Dorman would finish in 17th, with teammate Desirae Jones ending the 'Cats scoring before all other teams with her 19th place run. Jenny Giguere would add a point to everyone's scores w/ her 21st place effort. Following in 23rd overall was Point Loma's fifth and final scorer, which sealed a 6 point win for the San Diego based squad. Chico would put numbers 7 and 8 runners across the line before UCSD's fifth and final scorer, which helped to seal the 'Cats eventual runner-up finish.

Although we had gone into the weekend with the goal of winning the race a young group of 'Cats ran a scrappy effort en route to a commendable 2nd place finish. As the 'Cats add 3 All Americans and a 2 time NCAA scorer to this developing line-up (fingers crossed for good health!) we should be a very difficult team to beat.

Up Next: The 'Cats will start their post season schedule on Saturday Oct. 22 at the 2016 CCAA Championships hosted by Cal Poly Pomona. The races will take place at Guasti Regional Park in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Men's 8k starts at 10:00am, while the women run at 11:00am. The men will be racing for their 15th straight CCAA title, while the women will be gunning for their 9th straight.