DIAMOND BAR – It was a short festival for Michael Wickman. He likes it that way. Wickman recorded the fastest 1,500-meter time by an NCAA Division II athlete this year while finishing second at the California Festival of Miles in Diamond Bar Saturday night. His 3:43.52 is the third fastest performance ever by a Chico State athlete.

Wickman finished less than two-tenths of a second behind winner Aucencio Martinez, a former Division II champion at Adams State who is now competing for the Boulder Running Company.  The University of California’s Mark Matsak finished third in 3:43.70, while Aaron Rono came in fourth (3:44.40).

Wickman’s effort was the 26th fastest time by a collegiate athlete at any level in 2009 and the 51st fastest time recorded by a U.S. runner. It also improved his qualifying time for the United States Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 24-28.

Chico State Men’s Track & Field 1,500-Meter Top-10:

1. Scott Bauhs	3:42.05	2008
2. Kim Ellison	3:43.3	1971
3. Michael Wickman	3:43.52	2009
4. Steven Springhorn	3:43.77	2005
5. Dwayne Ray	3:44.8	1969
6. Mark Hoefer	3:45.92	1984
7. Gene Meyers	3:47.1	1971
8. Chris Hood	3:48.18	1982
9. Mike Wright	3:48.25	1981
10. Sean Palmer	3:48.88	1982

Chico State Athletics – A Decade-Plus of Dominance...
79 NCAA Championship berths
32 CCAA titles
21 West Region titles
13 National titles
...Since joining the CCAA in 1998-99.