For the majority of the 2022 season, the Chico State women's track & field team has worked to maximize individual results with an eye on sending multiple athletes to the upcoming NCAA Track & Field Championships. But this week, the Wildcats have set their collective sights on a more team-oriented prize. The Wildcats' deep talent pool will continue its efforts to deliver season-best performances, but also do its share to rack up points and help Chico State reclaim top honors in the CCAA Track & Field Championships, taking place Thursday through Saturday at Cox Stadium on the campus of San Francisco State.
Fans can follow the meet results online through the Wildcat Athletics website, with links available on at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the Chico State women's track & field schedule page. Live streaming video will also available for Saturday's action; a fee is required to view.
The 'Cats have a definite goal the team wants to achieve. After an eight-year conference reign from 2010 to 2017, Chico State has come up just short in hoisting the CCAA Track & Field Championship banner, finishing third in 2018 and again in 2019. Based on the numerous personal best marks posted this season, the Wildcats have every reason to be optimistic they can prevail over a very talented field.
San Francisco State is the two-time defending champion, but Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State, and Cal State San Marcos would have to be considered the favorites to hoist this season's women's championship banner. According to the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Track & Field Rating Index, Pomona is No. 1 in the CCAA, No. 4 in the West Region, and No. 24 in the nation. Chico State is ranked No. 2 in the conference and No. 5 in the West Region, with Cal State San Marcos No. 3 in the CCAA and No. 15 in the West.
The 'Cats will look for Talyn Steffens to set the tone Thursday when she represents Chico State in the heptathlon. Friday, the Wildcats' talented stable of sprinters—Danielle Bacon, Savannah Bailey, Kaitlyn Gonzales, Taylor Lee, and Mckenzie Blair—will compete in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter dash preliminaries, with Alyssa Evans, Alexis Hinojosa, Selina Schillig, and Chloe Taylor entered in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles.
The Wildcats' pole vaulters are also out in force Friday, with Amy Bell, Elise Barnum, Samantha Brackett, Rebecca Graham, Lara Condosta, and Carissa Rodriguez aiming to reach new heights. Condosta and Graham finished second and third at the 2019 CCAA Championships, earning all-conference honors.
Hannah Ryan will toe the starting line looking to deliver a sizeable amount of team points in Friday afternoon's 10,000-meter run.
The long jump, with Brackett representing Chico State, takes place Friday. On Saturday, the Wildcats will feature Natalie Muse in the triple jump, and Bell, Nadia Torkman, and Victoria Valley in the high jump. Bell and Torkman will lead a contingent of five 'Cats competing Thursday in the javelin.
Ava Cavallaro, Citlalli Fernandez, Sara Filter, and Alana Ochoa will anchor Chico State's other throwing events taking place during all three days of the CCAA Track & Field Championships.
The Wildcats are hoping to come away with several team points Saturday in two crucial distance races. Marissa D'Atri will take on the field in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Ryan, Marissa D'Atri, Jaclyn Denham, Gracie Dupuis, and Jennifer Ruiz are entered in the 5,000-meter run.
The Wildcats unleash their relay teams on Saturday, with Blair, Taylor, Bailey, and Torkman running the 4x100-meter relay. The 4x400-meter relay is the meet's final event, with Bacon, Bailey, Lee, Taylor, Gonzales, Torkman, and Muse all ready to make up the Wildcat foursome. If past years are any indication, the CCAA championship could very well come down to who wins the 4x4.
2022 CCAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday, May 5–Saturday, May 7
Cox Stadium, San Francisco
Hosted by San Francisco State
Thursday, May 5
10 a.m.—Ava Cavallaro, Citlalli Fernandez, Sara Filter, and Alana Ochoa / hammer throw
11 a.m.—Talyn Steffens / heptathlon (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash)
2 p.m.—Ashley Brown, Hunter Casperson, Nadia Torkman, Amy Bell, and Alana Ochoa / javelin throw
Friday, May 6
10:40 a.m.—Talyn Steffens / heptathlon (long jump, javelin, 800-meter run)
1:40 p.m.—Jaclyn Denham, Katie Hawley, and Jennifer Ruiz / 1,500-meter run preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 2:30 p.m. finals)
2:15 p.m.—Alyssa Evans, Alexis Hinojosa, Selina Schillig, and Chloe Taylor / 100-meter hurdles preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 2:50 p.m. finals)
2:30 p.m.—Amy Bell, Elise Barnum, Samantha Brackett, Rebecca Graham, Lara Condosta, and Carissa Rodriguez / pole vault
2:40 p.m.—Danielle Bacon, Savannah Bailey, Kaitlyn Gonzales, and Taylor Lee / 400-meter dash preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 3:10 p.m. finals)
3:10 p.m.—Mckenzie Blair / 100-meter dash preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 3:30 p.m. finals)
3:30 p.m.—Samantha Brackett / long jump
3:35 p.m.—Natalie Dinin and Katie Hawley / 800-meter run preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 3:50 p.m. finals)
3:55 p.m.—Alyssa Evans, Alexis Hinojosa, Selina Schillig, Talyn Steffens, and Chloe Taylor / 400-meter hurdles preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 4:10 p.m. finals)
4:25 p.m.—Savannah Bailey / 200-meter dash preliminaries (qualifiers advance to Saturday's 4:30 p.m. finals)
4:55 p.m.—Hannah Ryan / 10,000-meter run
Saturday, May 7
9:30 a.m.—Natalie Muse / triple jump
9:30 a.m.—Ava Cavallaro, Citlalli Fernandez, Sara Filter, and Alana Ochoa / shot put
12 p.m.—Amy Bell, Nadia Torkman, and Victoria Vally / high jump
12 p.m.—Ava Cavallaro, Citlalli Fernandez, Sara Filter, and Alana Ochoa / discus
1:30 p.m.—Mckenzie Blair, Chloe Taylor, Savannah Bailey, and Nadia Torkman / 4x100-meter relay
1:50 p.m.—Marissa D'Atri / 3,000-meter steeplechase
2:30 p.m.—1,500-meter run finals
2:50 p.m.—100-meter hurdle finals
3:10 p.m.—400-meter dash finals
3:30 p.m.—100-meter dash finals
3:50 p.m.—800-meter run finals
4:10 p.m.—400-meter hurdles finals
4:30 p.m.—200-meter dash finals
4:50 p.m.—Marissa D'Atri, Jaclyn Denham, Gracie Dupuis, Jennifer Ruiz, and Hannah Ryan / 5,000-meter run
5:35 p.m.—Danielle Bacon, Savannah Bailey, Taylor Lee, Chloe Taylor, Kaitlyn Gonzales, Nadia Torkman, and Natalie Muse / 4x400-meter relay
