Start with cold temperatures and gray skies to kick off Friday. Then toss in a steady amount of rain around midday. The wintery elements added up to a wet and wild final day of competition at the Chico Multi-Event Classic, but despite the conditions, Chico State decathletes and heptathletes turned in several fine performances at University Stadium. Jordan Ausbie made his Chico State debut a successful one, finishing second in the decathlon, with freshman Annie Belter—also competing for the first time as a Wildcat—delivering a ninth place finish in the heptathlon.
 
Ausbie entered Friday's final five events in second place in the 13-man decathlon field. He finished the day holding on to second with a total of 6,000 points. Ausbie was Chico State's top performer in the 1,500-meter run, placing second with a time of 4:48.73. He also placed third in the javelin (41.59 meters), fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (17.13 seconds), and posted a pair of personal best marks while finishing seventh in the discus (31.29 meters) and tying for seventh in the pole vault (3.60 meters).
 
Zack Nelson brought home a solid fifth place decathlon finish with a two-day total of 5,673 points. He placed second Friday in both the 110-meter hurdles (15.97 seconds) and the javelin (43.36 meters), was Chico State's top finisher in the discus (sixth place, 32.01 meters), came in eighth in the 1,500-meter run (5:28.74), and finished ninth in the pole vault (3.50 meters).
 
Justin Craven moved up two spots in the decathlon standings to finish the 10-event competition in sixth place with 5,501 points. He led Chico State in the pole vault, finishing in a tie for second overall with a height of 4.00 meters. Craven also finished third in the 1,500-meter run (5:02.69), fifth in the javelin (39.83 meters), sixth in the 110-meter hurdles (17.50 seconds), and eighth in the discus (29.96 meters).
 
Freshman Logan Jodie, who was in 11th place following Thursday's first day decathlon action, jumped up to ninth with 4,578 points. Jodie's top event Friday was the pole vault, where he tied for fifth with a height of 3.80 meter. Jodie also recorded a seventh place finish in the 1,500-meter run (5:26.74), while coming in 10th in the javelin (30.43 meters), 11th in the 110-meter hurdles (18.99 seconds), and 13th in the discus (18.65 meters).
 
Brady Giles moved up a notch from 12th to 11th place overall with a solid overall performance Friday, finishing with 4,376 points. Giles placed fourth in the javelin (41.08 meters) and sixth in the 1,500-meter run (5:21.16). The freshman Wildcat also finished eighth in the 110-meter hurdles (17.79 seconds), 10th in the discus (24.36 meters), and 12th in the pole vault (2.60 meters).
 
First day leader and defending meet champion Brett Lombardi won his second straight Chico Multi-Event Classic decathlon title. Competing unattached, the former Fresno Pacific Sunbird racked up 6,563 points to successfully defend his title.
 
In the heptathlon, Belter began and finished the final day of competition in ninth place with 3,141 points, with Talyn Steffens securing 2,877 points to place 11th in the 13-athlete field.
 
On Friday's final day of the heptathlon, Belter notched seventh place finishes in the long jump (4.70 meters) and the 800-meter run (2:43.96), while placing 13th in the javelin (18.28 meters).
 
Steffens posted an eighth place finish in the 800-meter run (2:45.69), came in 10th in the javelin (20.31 meters), and placed 11th in the long jump (4.42 meters).
 
First-day leader Brianna Green of Fresno Pacific took top honors in the heptathlon, garnering 4,310 points to easily outdistance runner up Grace Kasberger of Cal Poly Humboldt.
 
Chico State men's and women's track & field will be in action next Friday and Saturday in the first full team meet of the 2022–23 season. The Wildcats will travel to Turlock to take part in the Stanislaus State-hosted Kim Duyst Invitational at Al Brenda Track at Warrior Stadium.
 
CHICO STATE GIVING DAY IS 3.1.23

This Wednesday is Chico State Giving Day. The support of our Wildcat Family over the years has helped propel our student-athletes' excellence.
 
Since the effort began in 2017, the impact of our supporters is unmatched, generously donating $529,743 during that span.
 
Chico State Athletics is about:

• Excelling academically.
• Contributing in the community.
• Conquering in competition.

 During Giving Day 2022, 660 donors gave 876 gifts for a grand total of $123,537 in support our student-athletes and to plant seeds for an even brighter future.
 
Please help us aim even higher with your gift during Chico State Giving Day 2023 on March 1. Donate to your favorite athletics program or contribute to our priority funds.
 
Your gift to the Wildcat Athletic Fund (which provides for the department's greatest overall needs), Student-Athlete Success, and/or your favorite program, gets us a crucial step closer to the next special moment for our Wildcat Family.
 
You can also help us make this the most successful year yet by becoming a Giving Day Ambassador for a team you care about. Your participation makes a significant difference and inspires others to give a gift.
 
We go farther together than we do alone. Thank you!