As we make our transition into the spring sports season, the Chico State track teams are looking to begin a very competitive 2010 season. Saturday, the Wildcats will be hosting the Wildcat Relays, an annual event that has women’s head coach Oliver Hanf excited.
“The Wildcat Relays are something that we started to highlight more of the team element of the sport, because I think it’s something that’s missing at the collegiate level,” said Hanf.
Chico State’s CCAA rival Humboldt State and Butte College are among the teams that will be competing. Saturday’s competition kicks off with the women’s 100-meter hurdles at 1:30 and concludes with the men’s 4x400-meter relay at 6:30. Admission is free.
“The event creates more of the team-scoring environment,” added Hanf. “The athletes get to tap into that and get the feeling that they’re a part of something bigger than just their individual event.”
Anna Eicholtz is pictured at last year's Wildcat Relays.
The combination of returning athletes and newcomers also has Coach Hanf thinking optimistically about the upcoming season.
“We’re extremely excited about who we’re bringing in, and our team is a little older this year. Now we have a real big junior class with some seniors to lead the way,” Coach Hanf said. “It takes pressure off of some of the talented incoming freshmen that we have, so they can take time to develop and still have a chance to contribute.”
CCAA Conference foe UC San Diego will undoubtedly be the top competitor for the Wildcats this season. The Tritons won the women’s CCAA title last season and finished second on the men’s side. The reigning CCAA-champion Chico State men will have to face some pressure as well to remain at the top of the conference.
“The men for sure have (the target on their backs) going for them,” Hanf added. “It has helped make a strong base for us as a program when it comes to recruiting, but don’t take it for granted. It can be added motivation for other schools to want to beat us.”
The rivalry between Chico State and UC San Diego might not be the traditional meaning of the word ‘rivalry.’
“The thing about it is we respect them so much. Their coaching staff is, like ours, there for the students’ best interest and there’s a mutual respect there,” Hanf said about the UC San Diego program. “When you go to battle it’s a fun rivalry. Each team wants to be on top and it’s on our minds from meet number one.”