SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — Competing against some of the top Division I programs on the West Coast, the Chico State men's cross country team delivered an impressive third-place finish at Friday's Bill Dellinger Invitational, led by another outstanding performance from senior Mario Giannini.
The Wildcats totaled 81 points in the 8,000-meter race at Pine Ridge Golf Club, finishing behind only host Oregon, ranked No. 5 nationally in Division I, and Weber State, ranked No. 8 in the Division I Mountain Region. Oregon claimed the team title with 28 points, followed by Weber State with 44, while Chico finished comfortably ahead of Berkeley (126), Saint Mary's (139), and the remainder of the 10-team field.
Giannini led the Wildcats with a third-place individual finish, covering the course in 23:46.6. The senior crossed the line behind only Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum (23:05.5) and Connor Burns (23:32.7), both among the nation's premier collegiate distance runners.
After opening the season with an individual victory at the Saint Mary's Invitational, Giannini approached Friday's race as an opportunity to test himself against elite competition and prepare for the intensity of December's NCAA Division II Championships.
"I wanted to get out with those front guys and simulate a bigger race like nationals, staying attached to the front," Giannini said. "I didn't get the best start, and those guys were running a blistering pace. From there, I just tried to chip away at the lead, moving from pack to pack and
working my way up through the race."
After gradually making his way toward the front, Giannini found himself in a battle for third place with approximately 800 meters remaining. When a Saint Mary's runner moved past him and several others began closing from behind, the senior responded with an aggressive finishing kick that ultimately secured his place on the podium.
"I was in third and got passed by a Saint Mary's runner, and I could hear two or three other guys right behind him," Giannini explained. "I felt like I was the prey, and I didn't want that to happen. So I took off and started my kick from 800 meters out. I never look back in races, so I thought they were right there trying to run me down."
For head coach Gary Towne, the performance was another demonstration of Giannini's ability to compete against some of the nation's best distance runners.
"It's great for Mario to have the opportunity to shine on a bigger stage," Towne said. "We know how good he is, and it's great to see him perform at that level."
While Giannini continued to establish himself among the nation's top distance runners, the performances behind him were equally encouraging for a Chico State squad building momentum toward the championship portion of its season.
Junior Sean Alliegro delivered one of the strongest cross country performances of his collegiate career, finishing 18th overall in 24:25.9. Senior Matthew Gordon followed just one second behind in 19th (24:26.9), while Sergio Cuartas III placed 23rd (24:31.8) and Michael Torres completed the scoring five in 27th (24:38.9).
Just 13 seconds separated the Wildcats' second through fifth runners, giving Chico State five finishers among the top 27. Damian Garcia (33rd, 24:52.8) and freshman Alijah Murillo (63rd, 25:30.8) rounded out the seven-man lineup.
For Towne, the result was particularly encouraging because of the continued development of athletes who have steadily worked their way into larger roles within the program.
"It's cool to see guys step into high-pressure situations against big Division I programs and still get the job done," Towne said. "We're seeing progress being made across the board."
Alliegro's performance was one of the clearest examples of that progression. Just four years removed from running 16:31 at the CIF State Cross Country Championships, the former Mira Costa High School runner now found himself competing alongside some of the nation's most accomplished high school distance runners, many of whom arrived at college with credentials far beyond his own.
"There's always some doubt when you're racing against people from these big schools," Alliegro said. "But by the time the gun went off, all that went away. I was just there to beat people. I didn't care what their times were. I was going to run as hard as I could and try to beat them."
Giannini, who spent portions of the race working his way through the same groups, was equally impressed by his teammate's performance.
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| Sean Alliegro Leading the Team |
"I was just proud to be his teammate," Giannini said. "I saw him up there and thought, 'I'm trying really hard right now, and I can't catch him.' When I saw him cross the finish line in 18th, I was so happy for him. He goes out there and puts the pedal to the metal the whole time, and it's starting to stick. It's so fun to watch."
For Alliegro, finishing among the top 20 against a field of this caliber was a rewarding reflection of the progress he has made since arriving at Chico State three years ago.
"It's honestly super cool. It's a testament to the work I've put in over the last three years," Alliegro said. "I've always known I could be good, but seeing it on a stage like Dellinger really proves what you can accomplish with the right coaching, effort, discipline, and desire. I've wanted this ever since I've been here, and it's cool to see it happen."
Towne pointed to the development of both Alliegro and Torres as an example of how consistent training and patience can narrow the gap between athletes who arrive at college with vastly different competitive backgrounds.
"That's part of the beauty of cross country. It kind of levels the playing field, especially when you've had the time to invest in the fitness and strength that Michael and Sean have," Towne said. "Hopefully, they can take a lot away from that and carry that confidence into the postseason."
Beyond the individual performances, Giannini believes the team's collective confidence and chemistry have helped create a different atmosphere around the program this fall. He described a group that approached the meet believing it belonged alongside the Division I competition, with teammates encouraging one another throughout the race.
That shared confidence has been equally important to Alliegro, who credits the relationships within the program for much of his development over the past three years.
"These guys mean the world to me. They're my best friends, my classmates, even my barber," Alliegro said. "Everything I do in Chico revolves around these guys. This is the closest I've ever been with a team, and I would go out there and give everything for them. I know they'd do the same for me."
With another strong performance against Division I competition behind them, the Wildcats will now turn their attention toward a championship season that includes the CCAA Championships, NCAA West Regional, and NCAA Division II Championships in December.
With one final regular-season meet remaining, the Wildcats will look to build on their momentum from Dellinger before turning their attention to the postseason, beginning with the CCAA Championships, followed by the NCAA West Regional and NCAA Division II Championships in December.
For Giannini, the performance reinforced his belief that Chico State is capable of exceeding expectations when the postseason arrives. Rather than focusing on national rankings, he believes the Wildcats' success will come down to how they compete against the runners around them.
"This race threw the rankings out the window," Giannini said. "You just have to win your battles within the race, and you might surprise yourself. I feel like it's a great secret that I know this team can do some very surprising things. I'm very hopeful."
