After a long wet winter and an opening meet with high temps in the 40's, the 70 degree conditions that accompanied this week's Hornet Invite in Sacramento, were much appreciated. Competing in perfect conditions and as a part of deep fields, the 'Cats enjoyed a very nice day in the state's capital on Saturday. Highlighting the day were wins in both steeplechase events, as Jack Johnson and Nicole Anthony each won their barrier races with NCAA provisional marks. Please follow along for a brief recap of our day.

Women's 5,000m: The Hornet Invite contests the 5k event in the morning hours before temps climb and winds pick up. The Chico women enjoyed perfect 60ish degree temps with their 9am start, and a number of Pr's were achieved. JC transfers Talia Swangler and Lucie Chevreuil led the way for the 'Cats with 18:04 and 18:09 PR's respectively. Both broke the 19:00 barrier for the first time a year ago, and are already knocking on the sub 18:00 door. Jalen Burns (18:22) and Molly Mulay (18:54) also notched PR's in the 12.5 lapper. Not to be left out, red shirting true frosh Carrie McDonough and Kela Leamy also recorded Pr's of 18:41 and 18:45.

Men's 5,000m: The men's 5k wouldn't produce the PR's that the women's did for the Chico crew, but the race itself was a much needed rust buster for the guys. Remington Breeze (14:45 PR), Jason Intravaia (14:30 PR) and red shirting Jr Raymond Lopez (14:28 PR) all ran among the lead pack through 4:45 and 9:27 1600/3200m splits. As the leaders ran away with a negative split final 1600, the 'Cats had a harder time closing this one. Intravaia would hold on the best while finishing 5th in 14:49. Breeze and Lopez would follow closely with a pair of 14:51 season openers.

Women's 1500: Freshmen Taylor Bayley and Nadine Dubon earned hard fought 4:55 and 4:56 1500m PR's, chopping nearly 10 seconds off their times from last week's Wildcat Invite.

Men's 1500 A trio of Chico men were entered in the second heat of the 1500 in Sacramento. ARC transfer and Sacramento native Conor Wells took the pace out at an honest 61 second second clip. The following lap was covered in 63 seconds as the pack hit 800m around 2:05. Humboldt's Daniel Tull (3:52 PR) took the lead and the Chico men were there to mark the pace. RS Frosh Trad Berti made a hard move from 400m remaining, but Tull and Stanislaus' RS frosh Andrew Vazquez had another gear left, pulling away from the rest of the field over the final 300m. Chico sophomore Matt Herrera found a gear over the final 150 hitting the line in a 3:54.2 PR. Wells and Berti followed closely with 3:55 seasonal bests. Following in a later heat Sophomore Cameron Tomlinson recorded a 4:03 PR. Just finishing this run was a positive step for Cameron who tore his planter fascia a year ago in the same race with 150m remaining. After missing much of the past year of training with complications from the tear, it was nice to see Cameron finish, and with a strong early season time.

Women's 800m: True frosh Katie Hawley recorded a 2:21.5 seasonal best in the 800m on Saturday with 69/72 splits. Teammate Taylor Bayley bounced back from an earlier 1500m PR nicely with a 2:24 800m PR.

Men's 800m: The 800m is oftentimes a very interesting tactical event. 1:50 800m man Michael Good made the cut for the first and "fastest" heat, which was full of accomplished runners. From the gun Bakersfield's Curtis Threlkeld blazed a very fast initial 300m while the rest of the field was unsure as to who would give chase. Good, stuck in the chase group rolled through 200m in 26, only to run a 29 split to the 400m mark. While Threlkeld sailed to an eventual solo 1:49 effort Good scrambled with the rest of the pack to switch gears over the final 400m.. Mike managed back-to-back 28 second splits to finish fifth in 1:53.5. less than .5 from second in the heat. The following heat was much more even paced and Conor Wells (doubling back from an earlier 1500) took advantage, tucking into the back of a quick moving lead pack and hitting 400m in 54 and 600m in 1:22. A 30ish final 200m gave Wells a new 1:53.3 PR. Garret DeLong posted a seasonal best 1:55.2, while Matt Herrera doubled back from his earlier 1500 pr with a 1:56.

Women's Steeplechase: For years we've had a young woman on our team who has shown the potential to be a special steeplechase runner. Unfortunately injuries, and a number of other factors have led to a resume that hasn't been fully realized. Since the beginning of this track season Senior Nicole Anthony has been on a mission to realize that potential, showing up to practice ready for whatever the workout might be, while also encouraging her teammates along the way. Not surprisingly results have followed. Nicole has led nearly every workout that we've had, and earned a pair of victories in the 1500 and 800m at last week's Wildcat Invite. Fast forward to Saturday's race at the Hornet meet and Nicole took her newfound attitude and fitness to the line in search of a new PR that would hopefully start with a "ten" and not "eleven." Teammate and 2018 NCAA qualifier Haley Boynton would join Nicole on the line, along with some 20 other women. In the early going the Chico pair did a masterful job of sorting through the overzealous starters ahead. By the 4 lap mark Anthony ran among a dwindling lead group splitting 5:41 and looking good over the barriers. Boynton trailed by 10 meters, showing signs of some missed training sessions in February. The next lap (89) was Nicole's slowest of the race, as she would follow with 88 and 86 second revolutions. The 86 would put her in front for good, and a final 200m under 40 seconds sealed Nicole's first collegiate steeple win (10:51 PR). San Jose State's Kai Bohannon would place second in 10:58. Haley Boynton would close well just missing 3rd place with her 11:03 seasonal debut. Anthony's new PR is the 7th fastest in CSUC history and is within 5 seconds of the final time allowed in the NCAA field a year ago.

Men's Steeplechase:
Chico would send returning All American Jack Johnson (8:59 PR) and Teddy Kassa (9:22 PR) to the line in the barrier race. Assistant coach and former Wildcat standout Connor Fisher (8:57 PR) would also contest the steeple. Others to watch at the front would be Dallas Baptist 8:57 guy Trent Phelps, and Stanislaus' Alexis Reynoso (14:37 5k 2 weeks ago). With over 20 men in the field, Johnson, Fisher and Kassa all rolled through the first circuit of the track in 70 seconds. The race settled into a 72/73 second per lap rhythm from there, and with each lap the lead group whittled by a runner or two. Connor Fisher would take the pace in the middle laps of the run, crossing the short 1600 in 4:47. After a 73 lap to the 2k mark Johnson seized the lead and lowered the pace with each passing lap.. From 1k to go Johnson recorded 72 and 70 second revolutions. The senior would cover the final stretch in a swift :37 seconds which would give him a comfortable win. Fisher would hold on well for second, and DBU's Phelps would take 3rd in 9:10. Kassa would finish 6th overall, narrowly missing his PR with a 9:24 run. CCAA Athletes of the Week: Both Jack Johnson and Nicole Anthony were selected as CCAA Athletes of the Week due to their victories @ Hornet! Results Link for 2019 Hornet Invite: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/59244/2019_Hornet_Invitational/

Next Up: The 'Cats will take advantage of a bye week as they gather momentum for the first big weekend of racing, at the Mike Fanelli Invite (Formerly known as the SF Distance Carnival). .