Of the many, many successful men's cross country teams Chico State head coach Gary Towne has assembled over the past two-plus decades, the 2022 edition of the Wildcats has the chance to distinguish itself as the most accomplished of them all. The 'Cats won all five of their scheduled meets this season, and brought both the CCAA and NCAA West Region titles back to Chico. Towne and his Wildcat harriers are hoping their next competition—Friday's NCAA Men's Cross Country Championships—will not only make it an even six wins in 2022, but produce the program's first-ever Division II national championship. The 10k event takes place Friday at 10 a.m. at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, Washington.
Live streaming video of the men's national championship run can be found at www.ncaa.com. Final results will also be available online, with links available on the Wildcat Athletics website home page and the women's cross country schedule page.
A total of 34 teams and 265 runners will be competing Friday for the top prize in Division II men's cross country. The Wildcats, ranked No. 4 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national poll and making the program's 23rd consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, were automatic qualifiers on the strength of the team's first place finish November 19 at the NCAA West Regional in Billings, Montana. It marked the men's sixth straight West Region title and 17th in the last 20 seasons.
As was the case in Billings, the 'Cats will likely have to deal with cold, wet running conditions Friday in Washington. The forecast in the Seattle area is calling for occasional rain and drizzle on Wednesday, and as much as an inch of snow falling on Thursday. When the runners gather at the starting line Friday morning, the forecast calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 30s.
Seven of the eight runners set to represent the Wildcat men at the NCAA Championships competed in the NCAA West Regional, with six—Rory Abberton, Omar Alvarez-Hernandez, Jack Emanuel, Daniel Hernandez, Brayden McLaughlin, and Joshua O'Neill—earning All-West Region honors. The other 'Cats ready to run Friday are Cameron Duquette and Brian Hastings.
Emanuel is looking to close out his Chico State cross country career with a flourish. If he finishes among the top 40 runners Friday, Emanuel will chalk up his third All-America cross country honor in as many seasons.
McLaughlin is shooting for his second straight All-America performance, while Abberton will attempt to best his previous best NCAA Championships finish, when he placed 42nd in 2019. Alvarez-Hernandez placed 119th last season in his lone NCAA Championships competition, while Duquette, Hastings, Hernandez, and O'Neill are making their first appearances at the national finals.
The Chico State men's cross country team finished eighth at the 2021 NCAA Championships held in Saint Leo, Florida. The Wildcats will be looking to deliver the program's seventh straight national top 10 finish and 22nd since 1999. The program's highest NCAA national finish is third, which the 'Cats have reached four times (1969, 2005, 2008, and 2019).
2022 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships Information
Friday's men's 10k race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.(preceding the women's race at 11:15 a.m.). It will feature 34 teams comprised of seven student-athletes apiece, along with 24 individuals. The top four teams will reach the NCAA Championships awards ceremony podium, and the top 40 individual finishers will earn All-America honors.
USTFCCCA Top 10 National Rankings
1. Colorado School of Mines
2. Grand Valley State
3. Wingate
4. Chico State
5. Lee (Tenn.)
6. Colorado Christian
7. Missouri Southern
8. Western Colorado
9. Nebraska-Kearney
10. Augustana (S.D.)
Chico State Competitors (seven starters and one alternate)
Rory Abberton (Sr.)
Omar Alvarez-Hernandez (So.)
Cameron Duquette (Sr.)
Jack Emanuel (Sr.)
Brian Hastings (Jr.)
Daniel Hernandez (So.)
Brayden McLaughlin (So.)
Joshua O'Neill (So.)
NCAA Championships History
Abberton—42nd in 2019, 143rd in 2021
Alvarez-Hernandez—118th in 2019
Duquette—None
Emanuel—126th in 2018, 30th in 2019, 24th in 2021
Hastings—None
Hernandez—None
McLaughlin—32nd in 2021
O'Neill—None
2022 Postseason Results
Abberton—3rd at Regional Championships; 1st at CCAA Championships
Alvarez-Hernandez—10th at Regional Championships; 8th at CCAA Championships
Duquette—26th at Regional Championships; 4th at CCAA Championships
Emanuel–8th at Regional Championships; 2nd at CCAA Championships
Hastings—DNR at Regional Championships; 24th at CCAA Championships
Hernandez—17th at Regional Championships; 9th at CCAA Championships
McLaughlin–13th at Regional Championships; 5th at CCAA Championships
O'Neill—20th at Regional Championships; 17th at CCAA Championships
