Persistence definitely pays off. Just ask Chico State women’s cross country runner Sara Mikesell. Her work ethic over the past two years has pushed her through injuries and disappointments to post perhaps her finest performance at last weekend’s California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships, resulting in an All-CCAA time and a key role in the Wildcats’ fifth straight conference title. Mikesell has also captured Wildcat of the Week honors.
Mikesell finished second among Chico State runners and fourth overall at the CCAA Championships in La Jolla, completing 6,000-meter race in a time of 22:06.01. She was one of six Chico State runners to deliver an All-CCAA effort, leading the ’Cats to their ninth women’s cross country conference title in the last 11 years.
Mikesell’s success is the high point of a two-year period that saw her left off the 2010 CCAA women’s cross country squad, and barely cracking the 10-runner conference meet roster last year. Chico State Gary Towne credits Mikesell’s consistent training – even when she was less than 100 percent – to develop the mental toughness to tackle the hills and twists of UC San Diego’s North Campus Course and excel on Saturday.
Now with the conference crown in hand, Mikesell and the Chico State women’s cross country team sets its sights on the NCAA West Regionals, taking place Saturday, Nov. 3 in O’ahu, Hawaii.
