It has certainly been a productive season for the Chico State women's cross country team. The Wildcats have finished second in two of their four meets so far in 2022, and have not placed lower than seventh. As a result, the enthusiasm is running extremely high for the 'Cats as they get ready to compete Saturday at the NCAA West Regional in Billings Montana, with a berth in next month's NCAA Cross Country Championship Finals on the line.
The women's 6k race at Amend Park begins at 10:15 a.m. Pacific time. Fans can keep up with the results online, with the link available on the Wildcat Athletics website and the women's cross country home page. The weather forecast for Saturday calls for sunshine but very cold temperatures expected to be in the low 20s.
Saturday's top three West Region teams will automatically qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships and the chance to compete for the national title December 2 at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, Washington. The top 25 individual finishers will earn All-West Region honors.
If Chico State achieves that top three finish, the Wildcats women's cross country team—which enters the NCAA West Regional ranked No. 3 in the West and No. 13 in the nation—will reach the national finals for the 22nd consecutive season.
The seven Wildcat runners that will line up for Saturday's 6k West Regional race include Marissa D'Atri, Jaclyn Denham, Gracie Dupuis, Della Molina, Iresh Molina, Hannah Ryan, and Hannah Tiffany.
D'Atri was Chico State's top finisher at the recent CCAA Championships, finishing fourth overall to earn her second all-conference cross country honor. The senior was an All-West Region recipient in 2021, finishing ninth at last year's NCAA West Regional.
Denham earned her first postseason cross country honor at the November 5 conference meet, placing 15th overall to receive All-CCAA recognition.
Dupuis, the 'Cats' most experienced postseason runner, owns three All-CCAA cross country honors and turned in an All-West Region performance when she finished 17th at the 2019 NCAA West Regional.
Della Molina is making her first NCAA West Regional appearance. The freshman had an outstanding first year of competition with the 'Cats, posting one top 10 finish and just missing earning All-CCAA honors with an 18th place showing at the conference championships.
Iresh Molina did capture All-CCAA accolades with a 10th place finish at the November 5 conference meet. Della's twin sister notched top 10 finishes in two of the three races in which she competed in 2022.
Ryan won All-CCAA and All-West Region honors during the 2021 season. She came extremely close to winning a second all-conference award at the November 5 CCAA Championships, finishing 16th overall.
Tiffany notched the first postseason honor of her Chico State career two weeks ago, as her 12th place finish at the CCAA Championships earned all-conference accolades.
36th Annual Pacific Association Cross Country Championships
Several other Chico State women's cross country runners will be competing this Sunday at the Pacific Association Cross Country Championships, hosted by the Northern California/Northern Nevada Association of USA Track & Field.
The four-mile run will take place at 9 a.m. at Lindley Meadow in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Final results will be posted online, with the link available on the Wildcat Athletics website and on the men's cross country schedule page.
The eight Wildcats scheduled to compete Sunday are Esmeralda Aguayo-Ruiz, Jacqueline Cascione, Natalie Dinin, Jasmine Fletcher, Katie Hawley, Avery Lambrite, Sophie Pelletier, and Jennifer Ruiz.
