TURLOCK – The weather took a turn for the final day of the 2024 CCAA Track & Field Championships, with the clouds looming overhead, a stark difference from the previous two days. Despite the climate change, the Chico State track & field teams continued to impress across many events, grabbing the second-place team finishes on both the men's and women's sides.
A repeat from the previous season, the 'Cats strung together performances and maintained the top-two finish, finishing just behind Cal Poly Pomona.
Chance Hefter recieved the CCAA Track & Field Championship newcomer of the year award after his strong showing in the throwing events. Hefter claimed two podium finishes with a top finish in the discus on Thursday, followed by a second place finish in the shot put on Friday.
The men concluded the week with a score of 220 over 21 events, scoring 14 more points than last year's total. The women's team collected 130.50 points for a second-place finish.
Josie Peterson defended her crown in the javelin throw with an unmatched throw at 42.14m, taking the top of the podium for her team.
Kendra Pearson, Mary Casserly, and Victoria Valley all fell in the scoring for the high jump, with Pearson leading the way at a 1.58m bound. Casserly and Valley both finish at the same height of 1.53m.
Niko Lawrence was the solo Wildcat to take on the high jump for the men's team, taking a second-place finish on a 1.96m mark alongside the winning Cal State LA jumper.
On the men's side, Aries Harris took home the gold in the javelin with an outstanding 48.29m throw, with teammate Demetre Aaron landing just a meter behind at 47.02m in second. Justin Craven (45.66m) and Jordan Ausbie (42.80m) fell into the scoring after finishing in fourth and fifth on the standings.
Matthew Rodriguez took second in the pole vault, clearing the 4.71m bar and finishing on the podium.
The men's 4x100m relay team consisting of Rusthon-Grisby, Rinaldi, Coffey, and Ramsey crossed the line in third with a time of 42.39 and scoring for their team.
Della Molina (4:43.99), Katie Hawley (4:47.49), and Iresh Molina (4:49.84) all finished in the scoring for the Wildcats in the 1500m. Damien Garcia found the podium with a second-place finish during the men's turn, clocking a time of 3:57.14 and claiming his first medal finish at the conference meet.
Senior Alexis Hinojosa followed up her qualifying race in the 100m hurdles with a podium finish and another impressive time of 14.18, crossing the line in second. Hinojosa claimed her first podium finish in her career, and her time from qualification was the eighth-best in the western region.
In the men's 110m hurdles, Parker Williams finished his Wildcats career with a third-place podium finish with a time of 14.93. Shane Kaiper (16.05) and Justin Craven (16.15) finished in the points, helping boost their team.
Danielle Bacon finished in 5th in the 400m with a time of 59.06. Trey Suffredini (50.64) and Demetre Coffey (51.72) finished in similar positions in the men's 400m race.
Defending her crown in the 5000m, Marissa D'Atri becomes a three-time CCAA Champion with a time of 16.39.92. Teammate Della Molina earned her first podium finish of the meet and her career with a third-place finish of 16.47.75 with a . Iresh Molina (17.01.56), Jasmine Fletcher (17:20.13) and Jaclyn Denham (17.35.30) all finished in the scoring for the 'Cats.
With his first CCAA Championship win, Brayden McLaughlin took home the gold in the 5000m with an impressive 14:19.36 time, climbing from his second-place finish in 2023. Freshman Mario Giannini earned a podium finish in his first CCAA Championships, claiming a second-place finish of 14:21.09 and nabbing a provisional mark after his strong run.
Danielle Bacon, Jessica James, Alexis Hinojosa, and Kaitlyn Gonzales rounded out the track events for the women's team with a fourth-place finish in the 4x400m relay at 4:01.01.
The men finished in an identical position as Trey Suffredini, Vincent Rinaldi, Demetre Coffey, and Ty Thomson clocked a 3:21.33.
The season is not entirely wrapped up as a few of the Wildcats will still try to earn a spot in the NCAA DII National Championships that will take place in Emporia, Kansas, May 23rd – 25th. Please keep checking back to see which Wildcats have earned their way to the national stage and will represent Chico State against the best in the nation.
