Chico State Athletics

The climb to all-conference status has been a season-long process for Chico State women's cross country runner Jessica Varela. The junior from Rancho Santa Margarita started slowly, finishing in the middle of the pack in her first two events, but a solid 15th place effort two weeks ago at the Triton Classic set the stage for her most impressive showing of 2013 – a sixth place finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Championships. Her steady improvement – and All-CCAA payoff – has earned Varela not only conference accolades but also Wildcat of the Week honors.

Varela completed the six-kilometer course at Chico's Hooker Oak Park with a season-best time of 22:26.9. She was one of six Wildcats to turn in All-CCAA runs to help the Chico State women's cross country team wins its sixth consecutive conference championship and 10th in the last 12 years.

Saturday's performance is the second straight All-CCAA cross country award for Varela and the third of her Chico State running career. She took home All-CCAA track & field honors last spring when she finished second at the conference meet in the 10,000-meter run.

Varela and the rest of the Chico State women's cross country team – ranked third in the West Region and seventh in the nation – are now preparing for the NCAA West Regionals, taking place Nov. 9 in Spokane, Wash.