BILLINGS, Mont.—Expectations and confidence were understandably high for the Chico State men's cross country team heading into Saturday's NCAA West Regional competition. The Wildcats entered the 10k event ranked No. 1 in the West and fifth in the nation, and needed to place among the top three teams to guarantee advancing to the NCAA Championship finals. Mission accomplished—and with authority. The 'Cats placed six runners in the top 20 on the way to a first place finish at Amend Park in Billings, Montana.
 
Chico State excelled Saturday despite extremely cold conditions, and the victory extends an already enviable string of six straight West Region titles and 17th in the last 20 seasons for head coach Gary Towne's program. The Wildcats outpointed second place Western Washington 48-82 to secure the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championship finals, set for Friday, December 2 in University Place, Washington.
 
Cal Poly Pomona, which finished third at Saturday's West Regional, landed the final AQ to compete for the Division II national championship.
 
Rory Abberton was the first of six Chico State runners to earn All-West Region honors, following up his victory in the CCAA Championships with a third place showing Saturday in Billings. Abberton finished with a 10k time of 30:14.63—just seven seconds shy of the meet's individual winner Charlie Dannatt of Simon Fraser, and less than four seconds behind runner-up Cole Nash of Alaska Anchorage. It was the second All-West Region cross country award of Abberton's career.
 
Jack Emanuel posted his third career All-West Region performance, placing eighth in the 100-runner field with a time of 30:32.25. Omar Alvarez-Hernandez finished 10th (30:33.44) to claim his second career cross country All-West Region honor.
 
Also notching an All-West Region run for the second straight season was Brayden McLaughlin, who finished 13th at 30:36.53, while Daniel Hernandez picked up his first All-West Region honor courtesy of 17th place finish (30:39.35). Joshua O'Neill, snagged his firs cross country postseason award Saturday, placing 20th with a time of 30:47.85.
 
Just missing out of All-West Region honors was Cameron Duquette, whose time of 31:02.37 was good for 26th place overall.
 
The Chico State men now set their sights on a prize the program has come tantalizingly close to capturing over the years—the Division II cross country national championship. That opportunity will come in less than two weeks in the Pacific Northwest.   

36th Annual Pacific Association Cross Country Championships
 
On Sunday, five members of the Chico State men's cross country team competed in San Francisco at the 36th annual Pacific Association Cross Country Championships, which took place at Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Brian Hastings turned in the Wildcats' top time in the six-mile event, finishing 26th in the 104-runner field with a time of 30:19.
 
Bennett Woodward's time of 31:01 was good for 37th place overall, while Charlie Giannini (32:18) and Travis Selby (32:22) placed 54th and 56th, respectively. Jack Hacker posted a 77th place finish with a time of 33:27.