Alex McGuirk has been putting in work in 2014-15. The senior distance runner, and our Wildcat of the Week, won his second and third California Collegiate Athletic Association title of the academic year Saturday at the CCAA Track & Field Championships.
McGuirk, the CCAA's cross country champion in the fall, won conference crowns in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters in the span of just over three hours on Saturday, leading a furious comeback attempt that fell just short for the Wildcats, who saw their 11-year conference championship streak ended by three points, 216-213.
McGuirk's steeplechase title was his third straight and marked the program's fourth straight CCAA Championship title in the event. He beat teammate Barron Maizland to the finish line by a little more than three seconds.
The Wildcats were in desperate need of a lift entering the 5,000-meters, a race historically dominated by the Wildcats. They got it. McGuirk, Nick Grubiss and Aaron Mora finished 1-2-3 to vault the Wildcats into a momentary lead. It marked the 14th straight season a Chico State runner has won the event.
Neither of McGuirk's times were personal records, but both were NCAA provisional qualifying marks. He already boasted the 10th-fastest 5k and the 12th fastest steeple in the nation this season.
