Thanks to a steady rain that fell throughout the day with just a brief mid-afternoon break and a wash of sunshine at the end, the field conditions Saturday at Chico's University Stadium were far than ideal at the Wildcat Invitational. But that didn't stop the Chico State women's track & field team from shaking off the raindrops to post a generous handful of season best and personal best marks, and in Chloe Taylor's case, a new school record during the 'Cats' first full home meet of the 2022–23 season.
 
In finishing first in the 400-meter hurdles, Taylor broke Aimee Rodgers' school record in the event that had stood since 2012. Taylor stopped the clock at 1:00.39, establishing a new program record while also earning an NCAA Provisional qualifying bid. Taylor's effort is to date the fastest 400 hurdle time in the nation among Division II women's track & field runners this season.
 
Taylor also anchored a pair of winning relay teams at Saturday's Wildcat Invitational. She teamed with Danielle Bacon, Jessica James, and Savannah Bailey to place first in the 4x100-meter relay, with the quartet posting a season-best time of 48.08 seconds. Later in the day, Taylor, Bailey, Bacon, and Taylor Lee took top honors in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:57.13.
 
Wildcat women's athletes racked up 15 first place finishes at the Wildcat Invitational. In addition to Taylor winning the 400-hurdles and the first place showings by the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay teams, Ava Cavallaro placed first in the hammer throw, discus, and shot put. Bailey was the top performer in the 200- and 400-meter dash; Marissa D'Atri was the first to cross the finish line in the 5,000-meter run; Katie Hawley was first in the 800-meter run; Josie Peterson topped the leader board in the javelin; Carissa Rodriguez matched her season-best effort in winning the pole vault; Annie Belter placed first in the long jump; Natalie Muse won the triple jump, and Kendra Pearson tied for first place in the high jump.
 
A total of 10 new personal best marks were established at the Wildcat Invitational. Josie Peterson got things rolling during Friday's hammer throw with a toss of 38.66 meters, good for third place overall. On Saturday, it was Taylor in the 400-meter hurdles, Belter in both the long jump and 200-meter dash, Avery Lambrite in the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs, Natalie Dinin in the 1,500-meter run, D'Atri in the 5k, Teresa Vasconcellos in the 200-meter dash, and Pearson matching her PR in the high jump.
 
Below are how the members of the Chico State women's track & field team fared Friday and Saturday at the Wildcat Invitational.
 
FRIDAY, MARCH 3
 
Hammer
  1. Ava Cavallaro, 45.23 meters (season best)
  2. Citlalli Fernandez, 44.17 meters (season best)
  3. Josie Peterson, 38.66 meters (personal record)
  5. Sara Filter, 34.80 meters
 
SATURDAY, MARCH 4
 
100-meter hurdles PRELIMINARIES
  2. Alexis Hinojosa, 15.21 seconds
10. Alyssa Evans, 19.16 seconds
11. Talyn Steffens, 20.23 seconds
 
100-meter hurdles FINALS
  2. Alexis Hinojosa, 15.28 seconds
 
100-meter dash PRELIMINARIES
  1. Jessica James, 12.69 seconds
  5. Teresa Vasconcellos, 13.39 seconds
 
100-meter dash FINALS
  2. Jessica James, 12.77 seconds
  5. Teresa Vasconcellos, 13.47 seconds
 
200-meter dash
  1. Savannah Bailey, 26.08 seconds
  4. Danielle Bacon, 26.88 seconds
  6. Teresa Vasconcellos, 27.57 seconds (personal record)
  8. Alexis Hinojosa, 28.55 seconds
  9. Mary Casserly, 28.63 seconds
11. Annie Belter, 29.94 seconds
 
400-meter dash
  1. Savannah Bailey, 57.41 seconds (season best time)
  2. Taylor Lee, 59.18 seconds
  3. Danielle Bacon, 59.56 seconds
 
800-meter run
  1. Katie Hawley, 2:20.72
  5. Natalie Dinin, 2:27.63
  9. Alexi Steinmaus, 2:33.68
 
1,500-meter run
  2. Marissa D'Atri, 4:38.17
  3. Katie Hawley, 4:50.23
  5. Avery Lambrite, 4:54.08 (personal record)
  6. Natalie Dinin, 4:54.34 (personal record)
  7. Paulina Guerrero, 4:55.34
  8. Natalia Muro, 4:56.52
  9. Hannah Tiffany, 4:57.02
11. Alexi Steinmaus, 5:03.79
14. Grace Gaddy, 5:20.60 (won section)
 
5,000-meter run
  1. Marissa D'Atri, 17:08.03 (personal record)
  2. Hannah Tiffany, 17:31.94
  4. Jasmine Fletcher, 18:03.99
  5. Gracie Dupuis, 18:05.19
  6. Jacqueline Cascione, 18:15.50
  7. Sophie Pelletier, 18:20.58
  8. Jennifer Ruiz, 18:37.49
  9. Hannah Wirth, 18:46.55
10. Avery Lambrite, 18:47.60 (personal record)
11. Paulina Guerrero, 19:02.12
12. Esmeralda Aguayo Ruiz, 19:45.49
 
400-meter hurdles
  1. Chloe Taylor, 1:00.39 (NEW SCHOOL RECORD)
  3. Alyssa Evans, 1:11.49
  5. Selina Schillig, 1:16.23
  7. Talyn Steffans, 1:18.04
 
4x100-meter relay
  1. Danielle Bacon/Jessica James/Savannah Bailey/Chloe Taylor, 48.08 seconds (season best time)
 
4x400-meter relay
  1. Savannah Bailey/Taylor Lee/Danielle Bacon/Chloe Taylor, 3:57.13
  2. Alexis Hinojosa/Alyssa Evans/Selina Schillig/Jessica James, 4:20.84
 
High Jump
T1. Kendra Pearson, 1.55 meters
T6. Hunter Casperson, 1.30 meters
T6. Talyn Steffens, 1.30 meters
 
Pole Vault
  1. Carissa Rodriguez, 3.05 meters (matched season best mark)
  2. Shelby Gill, 2.75 meters
 
Long Jump
  1. Annie Belter, 4.96 meters (personal record)
  2. Alexis Hinojosa, 4.92 meters
  4. Natalie Muse, 4.85 meters
  6. Samantha Brackett, 4.59 meters
  7. Ashley Brown, 4.55 meters
 
Triple Jump
  1. Natalie Muse, 10.23 meters
 
Shot Put
  1. Ava Cavallaro, 11.27 meters
  6. Citlalli Fernandez, 8.66 meters
 
Discus
  1. Ava Cavallaro, 34.50 meters (season best mark)
  2. Citlalli Fernandez, 30.76 meters
  8. Sara Filter, 26.62 meters
 
Javelin
  1. Josie Peterson, 37.36 meters (season best mark)
  2. Ashley Brown, 35.40 meters
  4. Selina Schillig, 31.96 meters
  5. Hunter Casperson, 31.70 meters