Eddie King still has the rejection email. After his third-place finish at the Western Washington Cross Country Classic Saturday, it's now good for a hearty laugh between himself and Chico State Head Coach Gary Towne.
Early in his senior season at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, King inquired about a spot on the Chico State cross country team. Towne replied with a 'thanks, but no thanks.'
Fortunately for King and the 'Cats, he ran just fast enough at the end of his senior season to walk-on at Chico State. After finishing second among collegiates behind only teammate Connor Fisher Saturday at Lake Padden in Bellingham, Washington, King is now not only Wildcat of the Week, but also likely headed to the CCAA Championships to help represent the Wildcats in their quest to add to their conference-record 15 consecutive conference crowns.
King had already proven his worth with important contributions to the track and field team. But Saturday marked his breakthrough on the cross country squad. He covered the 10-kilometer course in 31:37.9 in his first race of the season and the fourth of his cross country career, which to this point has been severely limited due to injury and illness. Prior to Saturday, King's best cross country finish was 25th and he'd never cracked the team's top nine.
King and the Wildcats will go for their 16th straight CCAA title on Oct. 21 at River Oaks Golf Club in Ceres.
