SAN FRANCISCO—It appears that the waiting was the hardest part. A sizeable 2020 Chico State men's cross country freshman class started their collegiate careers a season later than anticipated due to the COVID-canceled 2020 campaign. Making their debuts Friday afternoon at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park, five of them placed in the top 12 overall to help lead the 4^th-ranked Wildcats to a runaway team victory.

Brayden McLaughlin placed second, Omar Alvarez-Hernandez fourth, Charlie Giannini sixth, Daniel Hernandez ninth, and Joshua O'Neill 12^th. Returning letterwinners Matthew Herrera (a senior who placed seventh) and Dylan White (sophomore, 10^th) gave Chico State seven of the top 12 finishers overall as the Wildcats crushed runner-up Simon Fraser 24-49. No other team in the field of 11 broke 100 points.
 
Senior Raymond Lopez (18^th place) and another of the freshman class of 2020, Bennett Woodard (20^th) also placed in the top 20.
 
The Wildcats raced without one returning All-American in Wyatt Baxter. Another, Jack Emanuel, is still rounding into form following a season away and placed 27^th. As is 2019 California Collegiate Athletic Association Newcomer of the Year Rory Abberton, who came in 39^th.
 
Chico State will be back in action on September 25 at the Cougar Challenge at Cal State San Marcos. That race will be a preview of the CCAA Championships, set to be held on the same course.
 
Team Results
1. Chico State – 24
2. Simon Fraser – 49
3. Concordia – 123
4. Academy of Art – 150
5. San Francisco State – 150
6. Santa Clara – 160
7. Saint Mary's – 166
8. Cal State Monterey Bay – 186
9. Menlo College – 230
10. William Jessup – 290
11. San Jose State – 303
 
Chico State Individual Results (121 participants, eight kilometers)
  2. Brayden McLaughlin, Fr. – 24:37.9
  4. Omar Alvarez-Hernandez, Fr. – 24:48.0
  6. Charlie Giannini, Fr. – 25:00.5
  7. Matthew Herrera, Sr. – 25:00.8
  9. Daniel Hernandez, Fr. – 25:06.2
10. Dylan White, So. – 25:16.7
12. Joshua O'Neill, Fr. – 25:23.3
18. Raymond Lopez, Sr. – 25:38.8
20. Bennett Woodward, Fr. – 25:42.8
24. Peter Normann III, Sr. – 25:47.8
27. Jack Emanuel, Sr. – 25:51.6
29. Hunter Sweet, Fr. – 25:52.5
31. Michael Ramirez, Jr. – 25:54.0
39. Rory Abberton, Sr. – 26:13.2
43. Brian Hastings, So. – 26:16.7
71. Marco Dal Canto, Fr. – 27:15.5