To bring down perennial powerhouse UC San Diego at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships, the Chico State women’s track and field team needed to pile up as many team points as possible over the weekend. Long distance runner Julie Shaw single-handedly provided 16 points to the cause with two outstanding performances, helping the ’Cats edge the Tritons by less than three points for their first CCAA title since 2004. Shaw’s efforts in helping bring home the conference crown have earned the senior from Anderson the Wildcat of the Week award.
Friday Shaw took top honors in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 37:11.45, as Chico State runners (Shaw, Shannon Rich, Colleen Joyce and Jonah Weeks) finished one through four in the event. Saturday Shaw placed third in the 5,000-meter run, clocking in at 17:47.24, as the Wildcats claimed seven of the top eight finishers in the race.
Shaw, who secured an NCAA provisional mark (35:56.84) in the 10k during April’s Mt. SAC Relays, has one more opportunity to improve her chances of qualifying for the NCAA Championships when Chico State travels to Turlock Friday to take part in the Stanislaus Twilight Invitational.