All the miles, all the pain, all the glory that has encompassed the Chico State women's cross country team's 2022 season comes down to the event the program has long been preparing for—the NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships. The Wildcats' hard-earned, long-awaited chance to compete for the Division II national title takes place Friday at 11:15 a.m. at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, Washington.
Live streaming video of the women's 6k 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 women's cross country. The Wildcats, ranked No. 11 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national poll and making the program's 22nd consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, were automatic qualifiers on the strength of the team's second place finish November 19 at the NCAA West Regional in Billings, Montana.
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.
Chico State head coach Gary Towne has selected eight talented runners to represent the Wildcat women at the NCAA Championships. Six competed in the NCAA West Regional, with three—Marissa D'Atri, Gracie Dupuis, and Iresh Molina—earning All-West Region honors. The other 'Cats ready to run Friday are Jaclyn Denham, Katie Hawley, Della Molina, Hannah Ryan, and Hannah Tiffany.
The Chico State women's cross country team finished 25th at the 2021 NCAA Championships held in Saint Leo, Florida. The Wildcats will be looking to return to the national top 10 for the first time since 2019. The program's highest NCAA national finish is fourth, which the 'Cats have reached six times since 2003, including three straight years from 2015 to 2017.
Chico State is one of only three teams to reach the NCAA Championships Final in each year of this century, joining Adams State and Western Colorado.
2022 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships Information
Friday's women's 6k race is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. (following the men's race at 10 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. Adams State
2. Grand Valley State
3. Colorado School of Mines
4. UC-Colorado Springs
5. Augustana (S.D.)
6. Cedarville
7. Stanislaus State
8. Wingate
9. CSU Pueblo
10. Lee (Tenn.)
11. Chico State
Chico State Competitors (seven starters and one alternate)
Marissa D'Atri (Sr.)
Jaclyn Denham (So.)
Gracie Dupuis (Jr.)
Katie Hawley (Sr.)
Della Molina (Fr.)
Iresh Molina (Fr.)
Hannah Ryan (Jr.)
Hannah Tiffany (Fr.)
NCAA Championships History
D'Atri—67th in 2021
Denham—199th in 2021
Dupuis–64th in 2019, 165th in 2021
Hawley—147th in 2021
Ryan—110th in 2021
2022 Postseason Results
D'Atri—3rd at Regional Championships; 4th at CCAA Championships
Denham—65th at Regional Championships; 15th at CCAA Championships
Dupuis—11th at Regional Championships; 11th at CCAA Championships
Hawley–DNR at Regional Championships; 17th at CCAA Championships
Della Molina—27th at Regional Championships; 18th at CCAA Championships
Iresh Molina—21st at Regional Championships; 10th at CCAA Championships
Ryan–45th at Regional Championships; 16th at CCAA Championships
Tiffany—31st at Regional Championships; 12th at CCAA Championships
