The second weekend of April seems to be a massive weekend for most distance teams across the country, and a big reason for this is the Bryan Clay invite, hosted by Azusa Pacific University. The meet has drawn so many schools from across the country that just the 1500 heats alone took the entire window from 5:30pm to Midnight on Saturday to run off. The APU meet attracts everything from Olympic medalists, to upper-end collegiate talent, and the 'Cats were excited to once again be a part of the action.

Due to the recent growth of the Clay meet, the 'Cats sent a good number of athletes to an "overflow" meet (Leopard invite) at LaVerne University. Both meets were incredibly productive for the Chico crew, as the 21 competitors combined for 18 PR's, and countless season's best. I should add that a few of the school's All Time lists were adjusted with this week's action. Marissa D'Atri led the way with a 10:08 (steeple) Chico State (and CCAA) record, just passing Alex Burkhart's 10:09 previous standard. Marissa would double back on Saturday (with many other 'Cats) recording a #3 A.T. CSUC 1500 (4:27.65). Della Molina would also shine, racing to a 16:31 5k PB (#5 CSUC AT), and doubling back the next night with a 4:32.9 (missing the AT list by .1 seconds). Not to be outdone Iresh Molina also double-PR'd with a 16:37/4:38 weekend of racing. The new 5k PB lands her as the 'Cats #9 A.T.  With the twins big 5k result, Wildcat greats Alia Gray and Karlie Garcia (both numerous-time All Americans) fall from the 12.5 lap list.

To make results digesting a bit easier, I'll start by listing the top times in each event for the 'Cats on the weekend.

I'll start by sharing a quick summary of results, followed by some highlights for each day's action. 

 
WOMEN
 
Steeplechase
10:08.68  Marissa D'Atri:  #2 NCAA, #17 All Time NCAA, #1 AT CSUC, #1 AT CCAA
11:34.72  Hannah Wirth:  Seasonal Debut. #4 CCAA

10k
36:40	 Hannah Ryan: #2 CCAA, Seasonal Debut.

5k
16:31.83  Della Molina: #5 A.T. CSUC, NCAA Provisional, #1 CCAA 2024.
16:37.94  Iresh Molina: #9 A.T. CSUC, NCAA Provisional, #2 CCAA 2024
17:24.79  Jaclyn Denham: PR
17:39.32  Jasmine Fletcher: PR
17:49.85  Megan Malloy: PR
18:02.18  Sophie Pelletier: PR
18:20.29  Jennifer Ruiz

800m
2:15.56	 Katie Hawley: Seasonal Best
2:18.48	 Sienna Bianchi

1500m
4:27.65	 Marissa D'Atri: #3 A.T. CSUC, #1 CCAA '24, NCAA provisional
4:32.93	 Della Molina: #11 A.T. CSUC, #3 CCAA '24.
4:35.78	 Katie Hawley. Seasonal Best
4:38.34	 Iresh Molina: PR, Heat winner.
4:41.13	 Sienna Hawley: PR
4:43.78	 Jasmine Fletcher: PR
4:43.86	 Jaclyn Denham: misses PB by 1 second.
4:47.69	 Alexi Steinmaus: misses PB by 1 second
 
MEN  
 
Steeplechase
9:07.30  Hunter Dougherty: PR, NCAA Provisional, #1 CCAA, 4th time running event
9:29.84  Anders Beil: #3 CCAA

5k
14:39.56  Travis Selby: PR, #5 CCAA
14:55     Daniel Hernandez: out TOO fast for the first 1200 and didn't recover.

10,000m
29:21.02  Brayden McLaughlin:PR, #4 A.T. CSUC, #1 CCAA, NCAA Provisional
30:40.11  Dylan White: PR, #4 CCAA
30:50.25  Matthew Gordon: Track debut, #5 CCAA

800m
1:52.56	 Damian Garcia: Seasonal Best

1500m
3:50.96  Damian Garcia: PR, #4 CCAA
4:00.99  Daniel Hernandez: Post 5k
4:07.56  Hunter Dougherty: Post Steeple PR
4:10.44  Travis Selby: Post 5k PB

Women's Highlights

Steeplechase: D'Atri's steeple school record already being covered, the 'Cats did bring CCAA runner-up Hannah Wirth back into the fold, after missing much of the winter and early spring training w/ a knee issue. Wirth was pulled out far too quickly in her heat, and paid a price, but still managed to hold onto the #4 steeple time in the CCAA this season. With a few weeks of continued training Wirth should contend for another podium spot at CCAA's in May.

800m: Katie Hawley notches a seasonal best 2:15 after having all momentum broken at mid race due to a competitor hitting the track in front of her. Given the circumstances, her 2:15 should probably have been quite close to her 2:14 PR.  Sienna Bianchi would struggle a bit in this one, falling a bit short of her 2:17 PR. Thankfully she would bounce back nicely in the 15 the next evening.

10,000m: The Cats had just one 25 lapper competing on the weekend, and that was Senior Hannah Ryan. Hannah has been through a LOT these past few years w/ many complex physical setbacks. We're Finally getting things sorted out, and she's healthy and fit. On Friday morning, competing at the Clay meet Hannah charged through 5k in 17:53 looking controlled and ready to meet her goal of running in the 35's. Unfortunately, the second half brought some digestive issues that included a tough stomach cramp and slowing. Her end result (36:40) wasn't what she'd hoped for, nor what she was capable of, BUT I'm confident in saying that we're getting closer, and hopefully the CCAA 10k will be her breakout race for the season. She's currently ranked #2 in the CCAA.

5,000m: The Wildcat women were split between Bryan Clay (Twins), and Leopard (remainder of roster) for the 5k distance on the weekend. Both venues were quite productive. Della and Iresh Molina ran in the same heat together at Clay. Their heat split into two in the early-going with front-runners notching sub 16:20 paced splits. Not ready for those types of laps the Twins operated in a group that hovered consistently in the 79/81 second lap tempo. Solid closes by each of them (71 second final lap for Della) brought them to the line with 16:31/16:37 PR's. Historically these marks would easily qualify one for the NCAA Championships, but in today's NCAA, they'll have to dip into the 16:20's to punch their tickets.

At the Leopard invite in LaVerne Jaclyn Denham led the charge for the 'Cats, as the Junior from Bellingham, WA recorded a 20+ second PR while competing for a top spot in her heat throughout. Jasmine Fletcher also looked strong throughout and dipped into the 17:30's for the first time. True frosh Megan Malloy dipped under the 18 min threshold for the second straight time with a 17:49 PB. Sophie Pelletier and Jennifer Ruiz both struggled a bit in this one, but still managed solid low-18 minute runs.

1500m: Maybe the single best 1500m day for the 'Cats in this history of the women's program. Leading the way was Marissa D'Atri who backed up from her steeple record with a 4:27 1500m PB. Her new 15 mark just edges past former Wildcat All American Kara Lubieniecki on the CSUC A.T. list. Della Molina would slice 4 seconds off her own PB with a 4:32 clocking. Iresh Molina (running in rainy/windy conditions) employed a massive kick that just caught a CCAA foe from Pomona at the line as she would win her heat in 4:38. Her final 300m was covered in a blazing 51 seconds! Both twins and Marissa all closed their final laps in 70 seconds or less on this day. Senior Katie Hawley recorded a 4:35 seasonal best in her heat and moves closer to her 4:30 pr, recorded at last year's last chance meet. Jasmine Fletcher and Jaclyn Denham both bounced back from 5k PR's with impressive 4:43 runs, in less than ideal conditions.

Men's Highlights:

Steeplechase: Chico HS alum Hunter Dougherty takes another big step forward in the steeplechase with a 9:07 PB. This mark moves him up the NCAA list a bit, and now ranks him atop the CCAA, but he'll need to shave off another 10-ish seconds to make the NCAA field. Sophomore Anders Beil ran 9:20 in the steeple a year ago, but has struggled to find his form this season. His woes aren't for a lack of trying, as he's been quite consistent with both effort and work. Thankfully his 9:29 from the weekend still has him ranked among the Top-3 in the CCAA.

10,000m: Brayden Mclaughlin is definitely wired well for the 10k. Two years ago he debut'd on the track with a 29:29. A year ago a non-running-related knee injury took out his entire track season. His return to the track has been less than smooth, as the Del Oro HS alum struggled through a 14:37 5k at the Fanelli meet two weeks ago. Thankfully Brayden didn't think too much about the Fanelli run as he approached his Clay 10k. With a goal of running 70 second laps, Brayden attached to the lead group of the second fastest heat of the Clay meet, rolling through 5k in 14:37 (matching his Fanelli 5k, only this time he had 12.5 to go). Shortly after 5k the lead group splintered, as top runners chased sub 29 minute runs and others (Bray included) tried to keep the 70's coming as long as they could. Brayden did a great job of racing the final 5k. Some slowing occurred, but a 14:44 second-half got him to the finish in 29:21, and gives him a fighter's chance of making his second NCAA 10k start line.

Teammates Dylan White and Matthew Gordon contested the 10k at the Leopard Invite, and both enjoyed solid results. With the two having shared many workouts this season they decided to work together the best they could, in hopes of running in the mid 30 minute range. The two crossed the 5k mark just under 15:20 and looked prepared for the second half. Unfortunately the field was very scattered by this point, so the two moved through slowing runners, literally while they slowed to some degree themselves. Dylan held on the best and stepped off the track with a 16 second personal best. Gordon managed a 30:50 debut and gained some valuable experience along the way. Now the two will prepare for the CCAA 25 lapper in a few weeks.

5,000m: Travis Selby led the men's 5k crew on the weekend. Rolling through 3200 in a swift 9:23 the Nevada Union HS alum ran a very strong third mile en route to a big 14:39 breakthrough finish.  Teammate Daniel Hernandez (fresh off his recent 30:03 10k debut) was in the fastest heat at the Leopard invite, which ended up being a bit of a curse, as his first 3 laps (66/68/67) seemed to put him anerobic (4:32 @ 1600). The final two miles weren't pretty, but Daniel held on for a 14:55 seasonal best.

800m: RS frosh Damian Garcia raced to a 1:52.56 seasonal best (less than 1 second off his time from '23) which moves him up into the Top-5 of the CCAA list.

1500m: Damian Garcia bounced back from his 800m seasonal best run with a 3:50.9 PB in the 1500. Running in the VERY Last race of the entire Bryan Clay meet, and just shy of midnight Damian made a valiant effort to send the 'Cats home on a winning note. After 3 laps at 62-63 pace and hanging around the top group, Damian made a move to the front as the pack approached the bell. Increasing the pace with each 100m Damian enjoyed a several stride lead over the field with 200m remaining. Despite closing with a 59.4 split over the final lap the Turlock native was nipped at the line by a Gonzaga athlete.  The rest of the 1500's were pretty rough as several of the guys braved the worst of the rain and wind during their heats.



Next up: The 'Cats host the Chico Invitational on Friday and Saturday April 19th and 20th. CCAA's will follow two weeks later at Stanislaus State University.