Senior distance runner Dayne Gradone has gone through about four different hairstyles during his time at Chico State. But most of the West Region's cross country athletes only know what it looks like from the back.
Gradone, sporting a tightly-shorn look this season, made short work of the eight-kilometer course at the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle's Lincoln Park on Saturday, finishing ninth in the Division I field. This week's male Wildcat of the Week, Gradone crossed the line in 24:13.97, ahead of the fourth runner from Washington, the second runners from Washington State and Gonzaga, and the top runners from Idaho and Seattle University.
The product of Aptos High School in Santa Cruz has two All-West Region and two All-CCAA honors on his resume, and earned All-America accolades in 2011. He's hoping to finish his collegiate career with a flourish in 2013 and proved to be in fine form Saturday.
Gradone and the Wildcats – ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 4 in the nation – will be back in action on Sept. 28 at the Stanford Invitational.
Local running fans will have a chance to see what Gradone with his hair, and to the competition, when the Wildcats host the CCAA Championships at Hooker Oak Park on Oct. 26.
