CARMEL—Its rich history is one of the many factors that draws aspiring collegiate distance runners to the Chico State cross country program. The members of the 2022 men's team had added a special chapter to it Saturday morning at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships. When the book is finished, it should definitely be chapter 20.
Led by the 1-2 finish of seniors Rory Abberton and Jack Emanuel, the Wildcats placed six runners inside the top nine, finishing with a title-taking 20 points to claim the program's 20
th consecutive CCAA title at Palo Corona Regional Park in Carmel. Cameron Duquette placed fourth, Brayden McLaughlin fifth, Omar Alvarez-Hernandez eighth, and Daniel Hernandez ninth. Chico State has now won every CCAA men's cross country championship since the 2002 Wildcats walloped UC Davis in October of 2002 on the Aggies' way out of the Division II door.
The Wildcats have been kicking sand on CCAA opponents' championship dreams ever since. During the streak of 20 straight, they've won on 18 different courses, in 17 different towns, with 20 different rosters. Abberton is the 16
th different Chico State CCAA Champion and 15
th different one during this streak.
"Every year is a different year. Different athletes. Different circumstances," said Chico State Head Coach Gary Towne. "There's a lot in the past that's led up to where we are today that's helped enable this group to do what they did. But this team definitely is special. It's unique. We've got some good firepower up front and some good depth to back them up. It's really nice to see them execute the race they did and run to the potential we felt like we had going into today."
The 6
th-ranked Wildcats outscored No. 22 Cal Poly Pomona 20-55 to extend their record streak of CCAA championships regardless of sport or gender. The previous record was 13 in a row. Only the Grand Valley State women boast a longer stretch of consecutive crowns, one more than the Chico State and Grand Valley State men.
Towne agreed that the chance to win number 20—and perhaps the pressure to keep the streak alive—was looming throughout the week leading up to the race.
"We don't like to talk too much about that stuff going into it, but everybody knew going into it what was on the line," Towne said. "Like I told them, being a part of this is pretty special because it goes back to literally the 1990s when we got the momentum going that punched us through to 2002. For them to be a part of that is pretty surreal. It's something I would have never expected or planned. And for the athletes, I know they appreciate what it means to be a part of it. They take a lot of pride in adding to that legacy."
The secrets to the team's prolonged success are many. But Abberton shed some light on one of them in when asked during an entertaining post-race interview about passing his teammate for the win.
"There is internal competition. We'd be lying if we said there wasn't," said Abberton, crowned the CCAA Runner of the Year for his victory. "We want to beat each other, but I feel like that's what makes it great.
"But we are also encouraging each other and working together and we're always looking out for each other in practice and in these races. I think you can see that. Jack was really happy for me and anytime somebody wins we're all happy for each other."
Abberton's winning time of 24:45.2 is a personal-best time over eight kilometers and a new course record. It's also his third All-CCAA honor. He credited Emanuel for making it a two-man race down the stretch.
"This race was good. We had a great pack up front for a lot of the race. There were people from other teams coming in and out but Jack was a constant up there. And he's never afraid to take the lead in any race of any distance, so I know he's going to run hard. He put a really good surge in with maybe 2k left that kind of dropped the whole field and I did my best to hang on," Abberton said. "…I managed to get him with like 400 meters to go."
With his runner-up finish, Emanuel earned his fourth All-CCAA honor, a feat accomplished by only seven Wildcats before him, a fact Towne knows will have meaning for him.
"He's a local kid from Chico High. He's a guy that definitely appreciates the legacy and being a part of everything," Towne said. "He's aware of the Wildcats of old and you can bet he's planning on adding to that legacy in the coming races."
Duquette, McLaughlin, Alvarez-Hernandez, and Hernandez joined Abberton and Emanuel in earning All-CCAA accolades. It was the second straight such award for Duquette, McLaughlin, and Alvarez-Hernandez. McLaughlin won the 2021 individual title. He went on to join Abberton, Alvarez-Hernandez, and Emanuel in earning All-West Region honors on the way to helping lead the Wildcats to their fifth West Regional championship in a row and 22
nd straight NCAA Championships berth.
So, there are more streaks to be stretched. These Wildcats proved Saturday that they don't mind the pressure.
Team Results – CCAA Championships
1. #6 Chico State—20
2. #22 Cal Poly Pomona—55
3. Cal State San Marcos—105
4. Stanislaus State—128
5. Cal Poly Humboldt—145
7. Cal State East Bay—150
8. San Francisco State—161
9. Cal State Monterey Bay—163
DNP Cal State LA
Individual Results – CCAA Championships
(Top 10 and all Chico State finishers out of 76)
1. Rory Abberton (Chico State)—24:45.2
2. Jack Emanuel (Chico State)—24:49.9
3. Medhane Woldu (Stanislaus State)—24:52.8
4. Cameron Duquette (Chico State)—24:53.3
5. Brayden McLaughlin (Chico State)—24:58.8
6. Leandro Candray (Cal Poly Pomona)—24:59.1
7. Ricardo Vargas (Cal Poly Pomona)—25:03.4
8. Omar Alvarez-Hernandez (Chico State)—25:08.9
9. Daniel Hernandez (Chico State)—25:09.3
10. Vincent Sarino (Cal Poly Pomona)—25:12.4
17. Joshua O'Neill (Chico State)—25:38.0
20. Bennett Woodward (Chico State)—25:47.3
24. Brian Hastings (Chico State)—25:52.4
55. Travis Selby (Chico State)—26:58.0
Chico State's Individual CCAA Champions
Rory Abberton—2022
Brayden McLaughlin—2021
Eddie King—2018
Kyle Medina—2017
Will Reyes—2016
Will Reyes—2015
Alex McGuirk—2014
Aaron Thomas—2013
Isaac Chavez—2012
Adrian Sherrod—2011
Brent Handa—2010
Jimmy Elam—2009
Scott Bauhs—2008
Charlie Serrano—2006
Patrick Boivin—2005
Tyler Graff—2003
David Braund—2001
Chico State's Four-Time All-CCAA Athletes
Patrick Boivin (2002-05)
Beau Bettinger (2003-06)
Antonio Miramontes (2003-06)
Charlie Serrano (2003-06)
Isaac Chavez (2010-13)
Alfonso Cisneros (2010-13)
Aaron Mora (2013-16)
Jack Emanuel (2018-19, 2021-22)
