Teddy Kassa picked a good race to put together the best performance of his Chico State cross country career—his final one.
The senior product of West Torrance High School led the Wildcats to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championship Finals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, crossing the finish line in 37th place overall to earn All-America and Wildcat of the Week accolades on Saturday.
Kassa covered the muddy, up-and-down, and narrow 10-kilometer course in 33:23.4 with a courageous, consistent effort.
After a bit of a slow start, the transfer from El Camino Community College was forced to work hard to get back toward the front of the pack. But he did so over the first three kilometers, climbing from 109th place up to 45th. Kassa continued to methodically pick off competitors after that, moving up in the standings in five of the last six one-kilometer splits.
Kassa had not been better than the third Wildcat across the finish line until Saturday. But the two-time All-California Collegiate Athletic Association and All-West Region selection turned his usually-solid racing into something spectacular Saturday.
It was a sight to behold, and undoubtedly, the sight that his Chico State coaches and teammates will remember when they think back on Kassa's cross country career. He will be back in uniform this spring when the Wildcats take to the track with a lot of positive momentum on his side.
