Sacramento, CA -- Hello Wildcat supporters, and happy 2018 XC season!!! After a summer of lonely miles logged and much sweat and smoky training, it's great to be at the doorstep of the 2018 cross country season. I'm happy to report that the Chico state men's and women's XC teams enjoyed a nice start to the season on Saturday by logging 1st and 5th place team showings at the Capital Cross Challenge invitational. The men notched their third straight team title while again taking down a good number of DI opponents, while the women placed fifth in a very tightly contested race. Having had the good fortune of being at the helm of the ship the past 22 years, I feel very well about the chances for both squads after our first competitive run of the school year.

Men's 8k: The Chico men entered Saturday's race as two time defending champions and with a goal of adding a year to this streak. Another goal was to continue to develop familiarity with a course that will serve as the site of the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships (**NOTE MARK YOUR CALENDARS**).

As athletes established positions among the opening mile, the Chico men were placed quite well among the field of 260+ runners. 2017 Chico State Alum and two time defending Capital Cross Champ Will Reyes sprung to an early lead while the field sorted into chase packs behind. Running among a lead group of 20 at the mile mark were Chico's Jack Johnson, Eddie King, Jason Intravaia, Luis Ortega and Teddy Kassa. RS Frosh Jack Emanuel and Jhavahn Holston were wearing the Chico uniform for the first time, and were wasting no time in establishing themselves on the collegiate level as the pair ran inside the top 25-30 in the early going. Zachary Chamberlain, Daniel Harrigan-Cota and Wyatt Baxter were also operating among the top-50, as the leaders flew through the mile mark.

As the kilometers clicked off, the Chico men did a masterful job of either holding positions, or moving forward through the field. While Johnson, King, and Intravaia held strong among the dwindling lead group, Kassa and Ortega fell from the pace, while exercising some damage control. The always steady and much improved Wyatt Baxter was moving well, and quickly caught his teammates ahead.

The final kilometers brought some separation among the lead group as Eddie King was able to move with several of the top guys who were spearheading the chase. In King's wake as he forged ahead to what was to become his best XC race to date, was 2:13 marathon runner Malcom Richards, and 2018 USATF 5k qualifier Phillip Reid. King would eventually finish 4th overall in a new 24:16 PR. Intravaia would also notch his best XC race to date while placing 8th overall and just 4 seconds behind Richards.

Jack Johnson, who had fought through a mid race side stitch, closed well for 9th place beating all other teams' #2 runners. Wyatt Baxter looked strong and composed while placing 18th in 24:46. Teddy Kassa, represented the 'Cats fifth and final scorer, ran a strong closing kilometer to wrap up the point tally for the Wildcats with his 22nd place run. Teammate Luis Ortega gave the 'Cats a nice insurance finish, crossing the line just 1 spot behind Kassa. RS Frosh Jhavahn Holston would cross the line 26th overall as Chico's 7th finisher. The Wildcats' depth was displayed with the continuous wave of Chico uniforms crossing the line, among the top quarter of the field.

As the dust settled and the results were posted the 'Cats had enjoyed a very lopsided win. Chico's #7 runner Jhavahn Holston had beaten the third runner from all other teams in the field. The 'Cats had also put all five scorers across the line before CCAA rival Cal Poly Pomona's #1. It was a nice first outing for the Chico men and affirmation of the fitness that was gained through the summer months.

Women's 6k: The years and names change, but there are certainly trends among the Chico State women's team. The main trend that seems to continue for the women is that we are DEFINITELY a second half team. Both in terms of seasons, and within races. A year ago the Chico women opened the season at the Riverside Invite and absorbed a nearly 100 point loss to CCAA rival San Marcos. As the season progressed into the championships, the 'Cats defeated the same San Marcos squad by halving their score at the CCAA Championships. During that same CCAA run the 'Cats were losing to San Marcos by 9 points at the 2k mark of the race, before rallying over the final kilometers for the eventual win. Those who have followed our women through the years know that we're traditionally a strong second half squad.

Fast forward to this year's Capital Cross Invite. Going into the race yours truly knew that Cal State Stanislaus was a much improved squad (see 2018 track Pr's), and that they would be Very motivated to try to defeat our Wildacats. We also knew that Stanislaus would get out fast and attempt to hold on the best that they could (this is also a trend, dating back to the '90's). Add the fact that the 'Cats would be running without All American Karlie Garcia (who's healthy and in very good fitness currently), and you had the makings for a barn burner of a race within the race.

With pre-race instructions that included getting out better than we sometimes tend to do, the Chico women placed themselves in decent spots in the initial kilometer of the run. Despite our solid start Stanislaus would have beaten the 'Cats by a large margin, had the race been scored at the 2k or 3k marks. The Warriors had 3 women running ahead of the 'Cats #1 Kayden Carpenter for nearly 3k, before the 'Cats pack began moving up, and Stanislaus.. back.

As the much improved Carpenter (our NCAA alternate a year ago) led the 'Cats attack at the front (running in the top 30-40 in the first half of the race) teammates Alex Tucker, Nora Pizzella, Desirae Jones, and Haley Boynton all ran together or within several seconds of one another in the top third of the field.

As yours truly watched the race evolve I would guess that Stanislaus was beating us by at least 15 to 20 points with just over a kilometer remaining in the run.

As the athletes raced down the finish stretch there was a noticeable change, as the entire 'Cats scoring contingent had moved into better overall positions and were closing well. Hitting the tape first for the 'Cats was Kayden Carpenter who finished 22nd overall. Just one second back at the line was teammate Alex Tucker. Both had finished behind Stanislaus' first and second finishers, but ahead of the Warriors #3. Stanislaus' #3 would cross the line a few places behind Tucker, while Chico's #3 (Desirae Jones) followed just 5 seconds back. Stanislaus' fourth finisher would cross next just 4 seconds behind Jones. Chico's 4th (Nora Pizzella) would follow just a few seconds behind Stanislaus' 4th. Now it would come down to the all-important fifth and final scorers. Chico's Haley Boynton would win this fight, crossing the line 52nd overall (22:34). Because of Stanislaus' low sticks ahead of the 'Cats top finishers, a gap was needed in order for Chico to win this CCAA battle within the race. Helping our chances on this front was the fact that local JC transfer and Paradise native Talia Swangler (who'd stopped in the early going after having her shoe stepped on) moved all the way up and finished ahead of Stanislaus' fifth runner (thus adding a point to their score). Unfortunately for the Chico women Stanislaus' Cynthia Mejia held on just well enough to finish 84th (22:59) giving the Warriors a 4 point final advantage over the 'Cats.

UC Davis' women would win the overall team battle with 76 points, while Loyola Marymount was second with 91. Grand Canyon finished 3rd, while Stanislaus (128) and Chico (132) would finish 4th and 5th in the 26 team field.

Overall it was a solid first outing for the Chico women who had held their composure well in the late stages of the race, while finishing among the top 5 overall in a solid field. Of course the addition of Karlie Garcia would most likely have had a big impact on the final team score, as a top-5 run for Garcia would have given the 'Cats a second place finish overall. As we look ahead it should be noted that Stanislaus' remaining schedule is Exactly the same as the 'Cats.. so I would expect more fireworks in the coming weeks.

Next up for the 'Cats: The 'Cats will race next at Santa Clara's Bronco Invite where they will hopefully welcome Garcia into the fold. !