The drama was limited. The joy, uninhibited. Kelly McConnell made sure of that. After a dominating victory in the 400-meter hurdles, McConnell turned a tight 4x400-meter relay final leg into a blowout, winning going away, to cap the Chico State men's track and field team's 13th California Collegiate Athletic Association crown in 14 seasons.
Whenever the Wildcat of the Week took to the University Stadium track on Saturday it seemed as though there was him, and then there was everyone else.
The fourth-place finisher in the 400-meters at the CCAA Championships in each of the last two seasons, McConnell won his preliminary race Friday with a new personal-record time of 52.92, breaking the 53-second barrier for the first time. In Saturday's final, McConnell's collection of speed, power, and grace overwhelmed his opposition. He crossed the line in 52.75, winning by nearly a full second.
That time is the sixth-fastest PR in school history and 21st fastest in the nation this year.
But McConnell followed that up with a performance that was perhaps even more impressive. Running the anchor leg of the 4x400-meter relay, he took the baton in a tie for first with the conference's 400-meter champion right on his heels. McConnell settled in just behind the leader for the first third of the race before switching gears and going around him. Chico State's fans in the stands, watching the final race of the meet, rose to their feet in wild celebration as McConnell motored his way to the finish line, crossing it well ahead of his competitors. The Wildcats were CCAA champions in the 4x400-meter relay for just the second time ever, and they were the 2017 team champions. What a meet. What a finish.
