Chico State Athletics

Sonya Saadati was one of the fastest sprinters in Chico State women’s track & field history, setting school records in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes during her career from 1986-88.

In 1988, Saadati ran 11.74 seconds in the 100 meters, establishing a Chico State record that still ranks second all-time. She also set the school record in the 200 meters with a time of 24.27 seconds in 1986, a mark that remains tied for third in program history. Her 55.24 in the 400 meters, recorded in 1988, still ranks second on Chico State’s all-time list.

After Chico State, Saadati graduated with degrees in exercise physiology and chemistry before attending medical school in Southern California. She went on to build a career in medicine, working in urgent care, primary care and regenerative medicine.

Today, she lives in coastal North Carolina, where she continues to practice as a primary care physician. She is also the mother of two sons, Drake and Trask, both of whom pursued careers in medicine.