What a difference a year makes.
Chico State women's cross country athlete Talia Swangler traveled with the Wildcats to Sacramento last fall and finished 69th at the Capital Cross Challenge, her first race in a Chico State Uniform. Fast forward to the last weekend, and the Paradise product not only led the 'Cats with a 26th place finish at the 2019 edition of the Capital Cross Challenge, but posted a new personal-best time for good measure. Her swiftness in the state capital makes Swangler the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Swangler completed the six-kilometer Haggin Oaks Golf Course layout in a time of 21:19.8—nearly 50 seconds faster than her previous best 6k time, and 1:30 better than her performance at the 2018 Capital Cross Challenge. Swangler was the first Chico State runner to cross the finish line in the Division I-heavy Invitational run, and helped the Wildcats place fifth in a field of 40 teams and 324 competitors.
Saturday's effort marked the second outstanding run of Swangler's 2019 cross country season. She was the top Chico State finisher September 13 at the Stump Invitational in Davis, placing 11th overall with a time 22:31.33.
Swangler and the Chico State women's cross country team will wrap up the regular season October 12 as part of the Western Washington University Classic at Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham, Washington.
