Chico State's Jack Emanuel placed second at the season-opening Cougar Challenge Saturday, leading the Wildcats to a runaway victory in their first race of the season. On Monday, Emanuel was named the CCAA's Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week.
 
The two-time All-American opened his season senior in style, covering the eight-kilometer course in a blazing 24:19.8. That time is more than 30 seconds faster than his previous-best time on the same course and 19 seconds faster than any Wildcat has posted there. In fact, Emanuel's time would have been a new course record had not Azusa Pacific's Nixon Korir passed him in the final stretch to win in 24:16.6.
 
Emanuel got the title that matters most, however, as the Chico State team rolled to victory with 32 points, while runner-up Azusa Pacific scored 70. The  5th-ranked Wildcats (No. 1 in the West) dominated a 17-team field that included two other top-25-ranked teams. 
 
Emanuel, who hails from Chico (Chico High School), was one of five Wildcats to finish among the top 10. The runner-up finish was his best collegiate cross country finish thus far. 
 
Emanuel and the Wildcats will be back in action at the Bronco Invitational on October 15. That will begin a stretch of three races in four weeks, culminating at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships. The NCAA Regional and National Championships follow after that.