The 110-meter high hurdles are all about speed, power and grace. Chico State's Sean Goetzl flies like and falcon and sprints like a wildebeest.
The Wildcat of the Week had it all on display at Saturday's Chico State Twilight Invitational. Goetzl, a senior from Aptos, tied two-time NAIA All-American Sullivan Stevens for the 110-meter hurdles title with a time of 14.57, logging an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark and tying fourth fastest time in Chico State history.
Goetzl had already garnered United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-West Region honors, two All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) awards, a CoSIDA Academic All-District honor, two CCAA All-Academic awards, and a USTFCCCA All-Academic accolade heading into this, his senior season.
He seems destined to add more to his trophy case. His time Saturday is 11-10ths of a second faster than anyone else in the CCAA has run this season and three-10ths of a second faster than anyone not in a Chico State uniform.
Goetzl, who hopes to improve upon his new personal record this Saturday at the East Bay Legacy Meet at Chabot College, ranks 34th in the nation thus far. He also ranks second in the CCAA in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54.04.
