Monmouth, OR - After a long hot summer of preparation, the 2023 cross country season is officially upon us. I'm proud to announce that the Chico State Wildcats began their season in winning fashion while competing at Western Oregon's Ash Creek Invitational in Monmouth, Oregon. Races were held on Friday afternoon in 80-ish degree temps, and covered the same basic layout that our November regional championships will (WOU is the regional hosts). Race distances were a bit odd though, with the men racing the 6k route, while the women stepped down to the 5k. Both fields were relatively modest (both in size and quality) as the men managed a perfect 15 point outcome, while the women packed 5 scorers into the top-12 by the finish. Both squads were a bit undermanned as well. CCAA 10k champ Joshua O'Neill (3rd in our team TT last week) had to miss this week's race. and several of our top women were under the weather with sickness. Thankfully there is plenty of season in front of us, and the good majority of our roster is fit and healthy.
Men's 6k:
From the start the Wildcat men established themselves among the top group while dictating the early tempo. As the race circuited through the 1mile-2k grassy loops the lead group of 'Cats squeezed off all competition. RS frosh and Chico HS alum Mario Giannini took control of the race in the third mile, while junior teammate Daniel Hernandez tried to hang as closely as possible. Brayden McLaughlin and Dylan White (each All Americans in the '21 season) ran together for much of the race in 3rd and 4th with RS frosh teammate Damian Garcia trying to stay close. As Giannini kept a 4:40-ish per mile tempo rolling from the front, the Chico guys allowed some space to gather between one another, but thankfully no other program's athlete was able to occupy the space between our top-5 on the day.
Giannini would hit the tape in a wicked fast 17:27 finish time. Daniel Hernandez would finish 2nd in 17:39. Dylan White would follow in 3rd in 17:50. With around a quarter mile remaining in the race our #5 at the time Anders Beil was just caught by Lewis and Clark's top guy Evan Markelz, a frosh who'd run 9:01 for 3200m last spring while running at Moutain View HS in the bay area. Markelz had worked really hard to catch our final scorer, and probably hoped to make the pass and break up the perfect score. Unfortunately for him Anders is becoming known for his big kicks. Just as the perfect score looked to be in jeopardy Beil glanced to his left, saw Markelz, and began to switch gears. This burst of speed put immediate distance between himself and the L&C runner and eventually up and past teammate Brayden McLaughlin. Thankfully Brayden had another gear left as well, as he would finish 5th overall some three seconds ahead of Markelz. Damian Garcia would give the 'Cats 6 of the top 7 finishers with his collegiate debut, and Travis Selby would cross the line as our seventh on the day in 11th overall (18:32).
All told, counting red shirts, the Chico guys would take 14 of the top 24 places in the race.
Women's 5k:
With Sonoma's Gianna Bomarito (2nd in CCAA in 2022 XC and 16:50/34:0's 10k PB's) in the field, things got rolling from the gun. Bomarito led nearly every step of this one, en-route to an eventual 17:12 winning time. The Wildcats did a solid job of measuring their early effort, knowing the field wasn't too large, and gradually moved into positions near the front of the run.
Leading the 'Cats from the start were Iresh and Della Molina who had each missed a week of training in the three weeks leading up to the race w/ sickness. Thankfullly both were recovered enough to toe the line in Monmouth. Teammate Hannah Wirth (CCAA steeple runner-up) rolled through the first 2-3k on the shoulders of the Molinas. Following just a few meters back was the 'Cats Sophie Pelletier (who was running under the weather), and RS frosh Sienna Bianchi (making her uniformed debut). Also operating among the top 20-30 in the early going were Gracie Dupuis, Jaclyn Denham, and a sick Hannah Ryan (2nd in our pre season TT last week).
The Wildcat women did a solid job of fighting for places in the second half which insured the eventual team win. Della Molina who had more time to recover from her bout of illness, was the first 'Cat to cross the line, finishing 4th overall. Sister Iresh (sick last week) would hold on for fifth place. Sienna Bianchi enjoyed a Very strong final stretch passing several athletes, (including teammate Hannah Wirth) while placing 8th. Wirth held on nicely for a 10th place finish, and Sophie Pelletier stopped the 'Cats scoring with her 12th place effort. 2022 All CCAA runners Jaclyn Denham and Gracie Dupuis would finish in 14/15th positions respectfully.
Despite a rough health patch before and during this one, our women managed to get the job done. Sienna Bianchi's uniformed debut was a big shot in the arm. A year ago Sienna was struggling with typical freshman injuries and adjustments to college training. On Friday she looked confident and comfortable while notching her first Top-10 collegiate finish. Sophie Pelletier has also taken some big steps forward this season after a really nice training cycle this summer. As this women's team moves through the season and gathers momentum, they're going to be a dangerous group as we hit the championships. Stay tuned!
Up next for the 'Cats is a return to the Cougar Challenge to race on San Marcos' home course in Southern California September 23.
