Falco DiGiallonardo has enjoyed two fantastic regular seasons running for the Chico State men's cross country team. In 2016, the junior from Valencia is proving his postseason mettle.
Two weeks after finishing fourth to help the Wildcats win their 15th straight California Collegiate Athletic Association championship, DiGiallonardo dug deep to finish third at the West Region Championships Saturday, helping the Wildcats win their 12th regional title in the past 15 years.
DiGiallonardo, the third Wildcat to cross the line in the team's 1-2-3 sweep at Amend Park in Billings, Montana, is our Wildcat of the Week.
DiGiallonardo cruised across the finish line just behind teammate Kyle Medina, and 20 seconds behind Chico State's Will Reyes, the regional champ, finishing the 10-kilometer race in 30:05.35. His 4:51 mile pace over 6.2-plus miles was easily fast enough to net DiGiallonardo is first All-West Region honor.
The third-place finish was the latest impressive result for DiGiallonardo, who has been the team's third finisher in all four of his races this season and finished seventh or better each time out.
DiGiallonardo's next test will be his biggest yet. He will be among the seven Wildcats racing for the team title at the NCAA Division II Championships in St. Leo, Florida, on Nov. 19.
