NEW ORLEANS - A legend in the Chico State men's cross country and track & field programs, Scott Bauhs is now joining the sport's national elite as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) elected the former Wildcat standout into its Class of 2026 Hall of Fame.
Bauhs (2004–08), one of the most decorated student-athletes in the long and rich history of Chico State Athletics, enters the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame with three NCAA individual national titles — two in track and one in cross country — along with eight All-America honors. He earned four All-America accolades in cross country, two in the 5,000 meters, and two in the 10,000 meters. The USTFCCCA recognized Bauhs as both the Division II National and West Region Track Athlete of the Year, as well as the West Region Cross Country Athlete of the Year. The CCAA also twice named him its Male Athlete of the Year.
"Scott's induction into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to one of the best athletes to have worn a Wildcat uniform," Chico State head cross country coach Gary Towne said. "Scott was an exceptional athlete who, by graduation, was one of the best distance runners in the United States — including professionals.
"What I'll remember most about Scott during his time at Chico State was his fearless racing and impenetrable confidence," Towne continued. "When he believed he could win a race, he would do everything in his power to make that happen. I'll also remember that hours after winning his first NCAA title as a sophomore in the 10K, his only goal in the upcoming 5K final was to help senior teammate Charlie Serrano win his final race in uniform. Scott did a lot to help Charlie win that title, passing up the opportunity to pursue a second championship of his own and celebrating with his teammate at the finish. I'm extremely proud of everything Scott did for our program and our community during his time in Chico."
The USTFCCCA noted that Bauhs "cemented his legacy over a three-week span in his senior campaign in 2008." That stretch began under the lights at University Stadium during the Chico Twilight Invitational, when he became just the 308th American to break four minutes in the mile, crossing in 3:59.81 in front of 2,400 fans. In the process, he broke Kim Ellison's 37-year-old Chico State record of 4:01.
The following week at the Mt. SAC Relays, Bauhs ran 13:31.90 in the 5,000 meters — the fastest time ever by an American Division II athlete at the time and the third fastest in Division II history. The mark was also under the Olympic Trials automatic qualifying standard of 13:33.
After securing his third consecutive CCAA title in the 1,500 meters, Bauhs delivered one of the greatest performances in collegiate distance running history at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford. He shattered the NCAA Division II record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 27:48.06 — the fastest by an American that year and an Olympic "A" standard mark. At the time, the performance ranked ninth all-time among NCAA competitors across all divisions and fourth among American collegians at that time. Competing in a field loaded with international professionals, Bauhs finished seventh while lowering the previous Division II record by nearly 15 seconds.
Following his historic season, he was named both the USTFCCCA Division II National and West Region Track Athlete of the Year before capturing his second NCAA outdoor national title in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 NCAA Division II Championships in Walnut, California.
Bauhs' final cross country season in a Wildcat uniform ended in fitting fashion. He won the CCAA Championship to help Chico State secure its seventh consecutive conference team title, then captured the NCAA West Regional individual crown as the Wildcats extended their regional dominance. In his final collegiate race, Bauhs became the first — and still only — Wildcat to win an NCAA Division II Cross Country individual national championship, claiming the title in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
His success extended well outside collegiate competition. Bauhs broke the American record for 21-year-olds in the half marathon with a 1:03:04 at the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, earning a spot on the U.S. Ekiden Relay Team in Japan. He later represented Team USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing fourth among Americans, and qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, placing 16th against the nation's best.
As the Wildcats prepare for the 2026 track & field season, Bauhs' name remains etched throughout the program record book. He still holds Chico State records in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and ranks third all-time in the 1,500 meters — lasting reminders of a career that helped define an era of Wildcat distance running excellence.
