SUNNYVALE—It turned out to be a sensational Saturday in Sunnyvale for the Chico State women's cross country team. Competing in the Division I-heavy Santa Clara Bronco Invitational, the Wildcats started the day by turning in a solid seventh place finish in the meet's 6k College Invitational, then followed up with a second place showing in the Open race in action at Baylands Regional Park.
The 'Cats—which began the Bronco Invitational ranked No. 2 in the West and No. 13 in the nation by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)—were the top Division II finishers in both races.
In the College Invitational event, twins Della and Iresh Molina placed 34th and 35th (times of 20:58.1 and 20:58.2, respectively) in the 226-runner field, with Wildcat teammate Marissa D'Atri finished in 37th place, stopping the clock at 21:00.4.
The women's 6k Open race—the Bronco Invitational's final event of the day—saw Chico State trail only Salt Lake Community College in the team standings. Avery Lambrite posted a time of 21:58.1, good for 11th place in the 184-runner field, with Jacqueline Cascione (20th place, 22:16.5), Jennifer Ruiz (24th, 22:23.5), Sophie Pelletier (29th, 22:37.1), and Esmeralda Aguayo Ruiz (30th, 22:41.2) all finishing in the top 30.
The Chico State women's cross country team will be in University Place, Washington next Saturday, competing in the NCAA Division II Pre-Nationals at Chambers Creek Regional Park.
FINAL RESULTS – 2022 BRONCO INVITATIONAL
College Invitational race — Team Results
1. University of San Francisco – 74
2. UC Davis – 110
3. Santa Clara – 135
4. Cal Poly – 149
5. Grand Canyon University – 153
6. UC Irvine – 202
7. Chico State – 213
8. Stanislaus State – 238
9. Long Beach State – 248
10. Stanford – 288
11. University of Nevada – 307
12. UC San Diego – 314
13. California – 360
14. Idaho State – 380
15. Saint Mary's – 381
16. Hawaii – 416
17. Utah Tech – 440
18. Fresno Pacific – 493
19. Sacramento State – 513
20. Loyola Marymount – 533
21. Nevada-Las Vegas – 604
22. Fresno State – 623
23. Cal State Monterey Bay – 624
24. Cal State Northridge – 682
25. Pepperdine – 709
26. USC – 762
27. Cal State Bakersfield – 830
28. San Jose State – 833
Top 10 and Chico State individuals
1. Ruby Smee (USF) – 19:36.2
2. Brianna Weidler (UC Davis) – 19:40.7
3. Allie Scimia (Long Beach State) – 19:45.3
4. Natalia Ruiz Lara (UNLV) – 19:49.0
5. Anna Vogtmann (UC Irvine) – 19:54.7
6. Kaela Dishion (Stanislaus State) – 20:00.1
7. Rylee Fick (Long Beach State) – 20:02.1
8. Rayna Stanziano (Saint Mary's) – 20:06.3
9. Grace Copeland (USF) – 20:14.1
10. Sierra Atkins (UC Davis) – 20:15.2
34. Della Molina – 20:58.1
35. Iresh Molina – 20:58.2
37. Marissa D'Atri – 21:00.4
51. Hannah Tiffany – 21:15.9
58. Hannah Ryan – 21:20.1
63. Jaclyn Denham – 21:22.7
77. Gracie Dupuis – 21:37.3
Open race — Team Results
1. Salt Lake College – 42
2. Chico State – 61
3. Santa Clara – 85
4. UC San Diego – 149
5. UC Merced – 167
6. Saint Mary's – 174
7. Clovis CC – 238
8. Stanford Club – 246
9. Sonoma State – 251
10. UC Davis Club – 252
11. Cal Poly DC – 256
12. UC Santa Cruz – 285
13. William Jessup – 360
14. Nevada-Las Vegas – 374
15. Cerritos – 384
16. Pepperdine – 455
17. Dominican – 510
Top 10 and Chico State individuals
1. Izzi Gengaro (Cal Poly DC) – 20:51.3
2. Sierra Brill (unattached) – 21:06.6
3. Rachel Victor (unattached) – 21:10.8
4. Daniela Salazar (unattached) – 21:25.9
5. Sabrina Garcia (unattached) – 21:36.1
6. Katie Castelli – 21:37.0
7. Ava Padilla (Cal Grizzlies) – 21:45.9
8. Luciana Lenth (Santa Clara) – 21:46.1
9. Grace Tipton (Salt Lake College) – 21:50.4
10. Elizette Ysais (UC Merced) – 21:56.9
11. Avery Lambrite – 21:58.1
20. Jacqueline Cascione – 22:16.5
24. Jennifer Ruiz – 22:23.5
28. Sienna Bianchi (ran unattached) – 22:34.4
29. Sophie Pelletier – 22:37.1
30. Esmeralda Aguayo Ruiz – 22:41.2
35. Hannah Wirth – 22:46.6
60. Paulina Guerrero – 23:38.8
74. Natalie Dinin – 23:49.2
101. Maleah Wilson (ran unattached) – 24:17.9
Iresh Molina (left, bib No. 183) and sister Della Molina (right, No. 182) race alongside each other during the Bronco Invitational College Invitational race.
Wildcat Jacqueline Cascione (left) notched a 20th place finish in the Bronco Invitational's women's 6k Open race.
Chico State women's cross country runners (left to right) Jennifer Ruiz, Paulina Guerrero, Esmeralda Aguayo Ruiz, Hannah Wirth, Sophie Pelletier, Maleah Wilson, Avery Lambrite, Natalie Dinin, Jacqueline Cascione, and Sienna Bianchi pose for a group photo following the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational Open race. All photos by Gary Towne.
