MONMOUTH, OR-- I'm pleased to report that by virtue of their 1st and 3rd place finishes at this weekend's NCAA West Region championships, both Chico State men's and women's cross country teams will once again represent the university at the NCAA Championships. This is the 18th straight season that both squads will end their fall campaigns at the championships, dating back to the 2000 teams that earned twin Top-10 finishes at the NCAA meet. The 2017 men's team earned the program's 13th regional title in the past 16 years, while the women would finish behind two International-heavy line-ups in #1 ranked (nationally) Cal Baptist, and #4 ranked Alaska Anchorage. Overall it was another very special day in the history of our program and now the focus will turn to the NCAA Championships which will be held in Evansville, Indiana on Saturday November the 18th.
This year's regional (hosted by Western Oregon U) was held in Monmouth, OR on grassy fields adjacent to the WOU campus. Each mile-long loop was a different variation of a previous circuit, with one 600m stretch (that was repeated several times) including a series of momentum breaking short rolling hills.
Women's 6k Championship:
There is no doubt that the West Region is currently the strongest in the NCAA. Top ranked Cal Baptist is currently ranked first in the nation after a dominating win over reigning NCAA Champs Grand Valley State, and fourth ranked (nationally) Alaska Anchorage is led by 3 Kenyans, one of whom is the favorite for the NCAA individual title in two weeks. Chico went into regional weekend as the defending champs, but ranked third, and having suffered losses to both #4 ranked Simon Fraser, and #5 ranked San Marcos during the regular season. Adding to the 'Cats challenge on the day was the fact that they would be running without All American senior Karlie Garcia, who was held out of competition due to an ailing back. RS frosh Haley Boynton, (the 'Cats alternate) was given only 20 hours notice of departing for Oregon to make her regional debut. Thankfully the late notice did nothing to deter an eventual impressive outcome.
The Chico women, with over 30 teams and 200 athletes in the field, did a fantastic job of placing themselves close enough to the front to operate at their chosen intensities. Leading the way in the early going was Hannah Dorman, Alex Burkhart and Alex Tucker, each of whom ran at the front of a very large lead pack at the first kilometer checkpoint.
Over the next kilometer early race favorite Carolyn Kurgat a nearly 6 foot tall Kenyan with a flowing stride asserted herself from the front and now the race was truly on. Full of anxious energy Chico's Dorman was the only competitor that followed the move of Kurgat, as Cal Baptists' lead trio hung back, along with a number of the other top seeds in the race including CCAA runner-up Natalie Rodriguez. The Chico women dug in tight with all seven operating among the top-50 of the field through the tough kilometers of the run.
As Kurgat strode away from Dorman and the field, Chico's top runner struggled to maintain her momentum, while CBU's top women and Rodriguez ate away at the gap that once existed between themselves and she. By 3k Hannah ran on the heels of this talented chase group, unwilling to let them gap her. While Hannah battled among the leaders Alex Burkhart who had gotten out among the top-10 through the mile, was giving away a few spots, but holding on as best as she could. Moving up through the field nicely was Senior Haley Kroll who in her previous 3 regional championships had finished between 28th-32nd overall. Today she seemed on a mission to crack into the race's top-25 and earn her first All Region honor. Running the entire race within a 10 second window was the 'Cats Haley Boynton, Nora Pizzella and Kayden Carpenter. This trio hung strong through the difficult middle kilometers, holding and gaining positions with each passing minute of racing.
Over the final kilometer of the race Dorman lost strides on CBU's Anett Somogyi and Emeline Delanis, but had dropped San Marcos' Rodriguez. A solid final stretch would see Dorman earn a fourth-place finish, while also becoming the first American to cross the line. Alex Burkhart would find the tape some 34 seconds later, hanging on to a 16th place finish. A huge stretch kick by Senior Haley Kroll would give her a 20th place finish, while earning her a first All West Region honor. Also closing well was Haley Boynton who had entered the weekend planning to run in Davis' Doc Adams meet, but ended up scoring as the 'Cats fourth runner with her 30th place finish. Sophomore Kayden Carpenter would conclude the 'Cats scoring with her 35th place effort, with fellow soph Nora Pizzella following closely in 40th position. Although it wasn't her best day of the season RS frosh Alex Tucker would conclude the 'Cats run with a 52nd place effort, which was still a better finish than all but 3 teams' #5 runners.
With their efforts Dorman earned her second straight All Region honor, while Burkhart took home her third in her fourth regional race. Although the Chico women had given up their first regional title in three years, there was absolutely no doubt that they had enjoyed a very fine race, and of course nailed down one of the coveted three auto spots into the NCAA field. There was much to be proud of, and now their sights will turn to challenging for one of the 4 NCAA trophies that are given to the top-4 teams at the National championships in two weeks in Evansville, Indiana.
Men's 10k Championship:
The Chico men went into the weekend ranked first in the region and fourth in the most recent NCAA polls. Cal Baptist would enter the weekend with the second ranking among the region and with a #6 NCAA rating. CBU would be extra motivated to vie for the crown given their impending move into DI. This would be their last opportunity to run regional or national championships until the 2022 season. GNAC rivals Western Oregon, Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser could also factor into the chase for the title as all three teams had enjoyed promising results during the regular season.
After an aggressive first 800m stretch the pack settled into a rhythm that hovered just above 3:00 per kilometer (roughly 4:50 mile pace) and the Chico men were well placed among the large snake of runners (190 athletes). Leading the way were Kyle Medina (2nd in the '16 regional) Connor Fisher (CCAA runner-up) and Jack Johnson (running his first regional championship).
By the mile mark most of the top teams had at least their top-4-5 running within 5-6 seconds and if a team score were to be announced Alaska Anchorage would have most likely enjoyed the edge.
With each passing kilometer the snake of runners gradually grew in length, and separation began to occur between groups. During the fifth kilometer of running the lead group evolved into a pack of about 25 and Chico had all five scoring athletes placed among this group. Kyle Medina looked comfortable at the fore, with Connor Fisher and Jack Johnson also looking well. Teddy Kassa and Arturo Arevalo had yo-yo'd a bit in the early kilometers but were now firmly entrenched in the lead group. Caton Avilla, who'd gotten out to a sluggish start, was working up gradually from what appeared to be a position in the 50's-60's at the mile mark. Even farther back in the field in the early going was Eddie King who had been sick most of the week leading up to the regional race. Although King was well back at the mile mark, he was moving nicely through the field as the race approached half-way.
The lead pack hit 5k in 15:09 and the top 5 'Cats each ran among the now stretched lead group. The advantage that Anchorage once enjoyed didn't last long, as four of their five had already slid from the lead group by the half-way mark. CBU had 3-4 among the leaders and was presenting the battle that was expected of their International heavy line-up. Western Oregon and Simon Fraser were each well represented with 2-3 among the top-25 at the 5k as well.
The final kilometers saw the stringing out of the field as the reality of the distance, coupled with the deceivingly challenging layout, set in. As the lead pack dwindled to around 15 by 6k the 'Cats still had 3 among the group, but Arevalo and Kassa had lost touch and now worked together in a smaller chase pack.
The stretch between 6k to 8k saw another shuffling of the lead group as Jack Johnson exited out the back, as did a number of others, as the group now totaled 8, with Medina and Fisher still affixed. Kassa and Arevalo ran among the top-20 in the strung out field, and teammate Eddie King was making a huge move through the field. King, who went through the mile just inside the top-half of the field (90's perhaps) was now running among the top-25 and looking for more. As King passed teammate Caton Avilla, he seemed to come to life as well, and he now ran in the 30's overall and was once again passing tiring runners.
The race for the individual title came down to the match race that most had anticipated. Hometown senior David Ribich vs Chico's Medina. The two had gone 1-2 in the most recent NCAA 1500m final, and a surge from Medina from 1k out separated the two from the pack. Ribich would be very tough to beat given his knowledge of the course, and his 3:39-1500m speed. With 400m remaining Ribich threw in a surge that seemed to break Medina and the senior from Chico for the first time in the race glanced over his shoulder to see who his closest pursuer was behind. Ribich would go on to claim the individual title, which ended up being a huge win for his team, as they would eventually tie Simon Fraser for the third team place.
Connor Fisher would finish strong in 8th and Jack Johnson would rally over the final kilometer to nail down a 10th place finish. It should be noted that a year ago Johnson didn't make the 'Cats Top-10 and now he was among the Top-10 in the west region! Teddy Kassa would finish 17th , and streaking in from another hemisphere was Eddie King who would finish 18th, thus ending the 'Cats scoring. Junior Arturo Arevalo would hold on well enough to nail down his first All West region honor with his 24th place finish, and Senior Caton Avilla would close out the 'Cats day as their 7th runner, finishing 30th overall and ahead of CBU's final scorer.
As the points were scored the 'Cats had indeed won their 13th regional title in 16 years and had secured a spot on the NCAA start line for the 19th straight year, dating back to the 1999 squad that finished 6th at the big dance. CBU would take second overall and Western Oregon would win a tie break for the third and final spot to the NCAA championships. As fate would have it Simon Fraser (tied for third) would NOT be selected for the NCAA field, highlighting a flaw in the new NCAA entry criteria.
The Wildcat men will now turn their attention on trying to back up 2016's hardware haul, as they look to improve on their 4th place performance from a year ago at the national meet. Once again, the familiar names of Adams State, Grand Valley State and Colorado School of the Mines will present the largest challenges. Stay tuned!
