Wildcats travel to Azusa Pacific again hoping to gain extra NCAA berths
Success for Wells and Abberton while field expansion aids McLaughlin

Saturday, May 14, 2022
Comments & photos by Gary Towne/Chico State Distance Coach

I'm proud to announce that 4 Chico State distance runners will join Pole Vault school record holders Christian Brady and Amy Bell at this weekend's NCAA Championships to be held at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Marks that it takes to get into NCAA's these days are Very stout, so we're excited to have 4 distance 'Cats toeing the line in MI this weekend. Two Distance-Cats used last week's Azusa Last Chance meet to gain entry to NCAA's so I'll include a quick re-cap of that action following quick bit on the national qualifiers.

Chico State Athletes who have qualified:  
 
Christian Brady (Sr)- Pole Vault  16'9 (School record) 
Conor Wells (Sr)- 800m 1:49.06, 1500m: 3:44.27 
Rory Abberton (So): 1500m: 3:44.78 
Brayden McLaughlin (Fr): 10k: 29:29  
 
Amy Bell (Sr): Pole Vault: 13'1 (School Record) 
Marissa D'Atri (Jr): Steeple: 10:31  
 
From the distance angle, all 4 'Cats will be competing on Day 1 of the championships. Abberton and Wells will run prelims
in the 1500, while McLaughin will contest the 10k final. D'Atri will debut at the NCAA championships with the steeple prelim.  
 
Friday (Day 2): will see Wells doubling back with the 800m prelim, and hopefully Marissa in the Steeple final.  
 
Saturday (Day 3) will be the finals in the men's 1500's and the 800.  
 
NCAA Marks: I keep mentioning how fast one has to run to make NCAA fields in today's NCAA. Here are the final times that it 
took to make this year's NCAA's in the distance events: 

Men: 800m-1:49.7, 1500m- 3:45, 5k: 14:03, 10k: 29:33, St: 8:57. 
Women: 800m: 2:10.1, 1500m- 4:28.1, 5k-16:36, 10k: 35:25, St: 10:40 
 

Azusa Last Chance Highlights:

As mentioned previously we had a very solid few days in Azusa last week with a good number of Pr's being run, and several All Time CSUC marks produced. With temps on the warmer side, conditions were a bit tough for the 5k/10k runners, but ideal for the mid distance folks. Friday saw action in the 800's, 5k's and 10k's.. while Saturday saw 15's and steeples. A number of 'Cats would double back with fast 15's after a Friday race. Below is a cliff notes version of who ran what times.. below that I'll highlight each event.

Conor Wells:   800m: 1:49.06 (#3 CSUC, NCAA),  1500: 3:44.27 (#6 CSUC, NCAA)  
Rory Abberton: 1500m: 3:44.78 (#7 CSUC, NCAA)  
Brian Hastings: 800m: 1:53.03 (PR), 1500m: 3:48.23 (PR, NCAA)  
Walker Doucette: 800m: 1:51.88 (PR)  
Jack Emanuel: 5,000m: 14:16  
Brayden McLaughlin: 10,000m: 30:47 
Bennett Woodward: 1500: 3:53.78 (PR)  
Joshua O'Neill:  5,000m: 14:45, 1500m: 3:55 (PR)  
Daniel Hernandez: 5,000m: 14:44,  1500m: 4:01  
Dylan White: 5,000m: 14:55 (PR), 1500: 3:56 (PR)  
Michael Ramirez: 5,000m: 15:09,  1500m: 4:04  
Peter Normann III : Steeple: 9:40  
Marissa D'Atri: 5,000m: 17:09 (PR), 1500m: 4:33.98  
Katie Hawley: 800m: 2:15.96 (PR)  
Gracie Dupuis: 1500m: 4:47 

Friday Highlights:

Men's 800m: Conor Wells came SOO close to running under 1:49, and to be honest the biggest factor in his Not achieving this goal was the fact that the advertised pacer for the race didn't show, but race officials didn't bother to let the athletes or coaches know.. With an advertised pacer scheduled to go through 400m in 52 seconds, the entire pack settled in behind an early leader who everyone seemed to believe was the rabbit. As this person approached the bell it became obvious that the pace was Not at the desired tempo, so Wells took the lead and surged through 400m in 54-55 seconds.. Wells would hold the lead until the final 50 meters, where two athletes swung by and sprinted to the finish under 1:49. Wells still crossed with a negative splitted 1:49.06, the 3rd fastest 2 lapper ever by a 'Cat. He'll have one more shot at the school 800 record in the prelims at NCAA's this Friday. Frosh teammate Walker Doucette fresh off his CCAA podium finish the week before, lowered his 1:54 PR to 1:51!

Women's 800m: On the women's side, Katie Hawley chopped 2 seconds off her PR with a 2:15 mark as well.

Men's 5k: Conditions weren't the greatest for the 5k's with temps in the upper 70's ,.and it showed as very few athletes from any team lowered their PR's on this evening. Jack Emanuel knew that his 14:08 PR run at SF earlier in the season wouldn't make the NCAA field, so he went for a 14:00 type effort, rolling though 3200m in 9:01. Unfortunately he was forced to lead laps 8/9 and then unravelled a bit over the final kilometer of the race, crossing in 14:16. Dylan White managed a modest 14:55 PR while taking second in his heat.

Women's 5k: Marissa D'Atri sailed through 3200m in a 10:47 PR, but the final mile was a bit challenging, as she held on for a modest PR of 17:08, just missing the NCAA provisional standard.

Men's 10k: Conditions were no better in the 25 lap race as Brayden McLaughlin, aided by seven laps of pace work by teammate Jack Emanuel, was only able to stay on pace through 5k before fading over latter half of the race under the warm evening skies. After returning Brayden would find out his 29:29 made the cut to the NCAA's thanks to 4 runners with faster times not declaring for the race in addition to the field being expanded from 19 to 21.

Saturday Highlights:

Men's 1500's: The highlight of the weekend was the fastest heat of the men's 1500, where Chico's Conor Wells and Rory Abberton both recorded huge Pr's. After rolling through 1200m in 3:00 Abberton took the lead of the race down the backstretch, with Wells following him through the shrinking lead group. As they rounded the final turn Wells led the race, with Abberton second, and a talented field in chase. An Air Force athlete would end up scoring the win, but the two Wildcats would finish 2nd and 3rd overall with each running 3:44 Pr's! Both athletes raced themselves onto NCAA starting lines with this effort, and now rank 6/7 on the 'Cats all time 15 list.

Brian Hastings a Sophomore from Las Plumas HS, also had his best race of the season as he Won the second fastest heat of the night in a 3:48.2 PR! Bennett Woodward, fresh off his steeple podium finish at CCAA's raced to a 3:53 PR while just missing the win in his heat. Joshua O'Neill and Dylan Whilte also enjoyed Pr's with 3:55 and 3:56 runs respectively.

Women's 1500: Junior Marissa D'Atri bounced back after a tough 5k on Friday with a near-PR 4:33 1500 run.