Cross Country | 10/25/2019 5:50:00 PM

ARCATA—If the Chico State women's cross country team is to continue its history-making run of California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships Saturday, the Wildcats will need their future to get to the finish line fast.
 
A combined six freshmen and sophomores will toe the line for the Wildcats' 10-woman team as it chases its 12^th consecutive CCAA title and 16^th in the past 18 years. True freshmen Destiny Everett and Grace Dupuis, redshirt freshman Carrie McDonough, and sophomores Jalen Burns, Katie Hawley, and Taylor Bailey, join veterans Talia Swangler, Desirae Jones, Nora Pizzella, and Haley Boynton to make up head coach Gary Towne's lineup.
 
The six-kilometer race at Baywood Golf and Country Club will get started at 9 a.m. The men's race will follow at approximately 10. Following the races, the CCAA will honor the top 15 finishers with All-Conference honors and also award the Runner of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Championship Scholar.
 
Fans can follow the action with live results online. A live look at the start/finish line is expected to be available throughout the day on the CCAA's facebook page, weather permitting. The spectator-friendly event is free and open to the public.
 
Pizzella, Boynton, Jones, and Swangler are the only Wildcats who made the trip to Arcata with NCAA postseason experience. Pizzella placed fourth at last year's Championships, Boynton 12^th, Jones 15^th, and Swangler 21^st.  Pizzella, Boynton and Jones earned All-CCAA honors, while Swangler snagged the CCAA Newcomer of the Year honor. Pizzella, who placed seventh at the CCAA Championships as a freshman, will be chasing her third All-Conference honor.
 
This season, Swangler has taken over pole position on the team, having led all Chico State individuals to the finish line in each of the first three races of the campaign. Everett has been the second Wildcat across the line in each of her two races in uniform.
 
But with five athletes scoring and two more adding points to their competitors, the Wildcats will need contributions from newcomers and veterans alike to get the job done against some very tough competition.
 
Chico State currently leads five CCAA institutions currently ranked among the nation's top 25 at No. 5 in the nation. Cal State East Bay is ranked No. 12, UC San Diego No. 17, Cal Poly Pomona No. 20, and Stanislaus State No. 23. Those five teams all rank among the West Region's top eight, with the Wildcats sitting on top.