CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State men's track & field season opened Thursday and Friday at University Stadium with the Chico Multi Classic, as senior Ronin Tidd highlighted the meet with an NCAA Division II provisional mark in the decathlon.

Four Wildcats made their collegiate debuts in the multi-event competition, while Tidd capped his final Chico Multi Classic with a personal-best 6,576 points to win the decathlon and automatically position himself among the early national qualifiers.

TOP PERFORMANCES

– Ronin Tidd captured the decathlon title with 6,576 points, an NCAA Division II provisional mark and personal best. The senior posted event victories in the shot put (11.96m), high jump (1.88m), discus (35.40m) and javelin (53.16m), while adding a personal best in the 400 meters (52.22) and matching a personal best in the 100 meters (11.54).

– Lavell Cross impressed in his collegiate debut, placing third overall in the decathlon with 5,931 points. The freshman won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.71 and finished runner-up in the long jump (6.46m). He added a third-place finish in the shot put (11.13m) and pole vault (3.60m).

– Miguel Long placed fourth overall with 5,727 points, highlighted by victories in the long jump (6.50m) and 1,500 meters (4:45.22). The freshman also cleared 1.85 meters to finish second in the high jump and added a fourth-place showing in the javelin (43.31m).

– Xander Newman scored 5,000 points in his first collegiate decathlon to place eighth overall, recording a tie for seventh in the pole vault (3.10m) and finishing fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (16.58).

– Samuel Raunegger rounded out the Wildcat competitors with 3,203 points, highlighted by a third-place finish in the discus (34.33m).

Chico State athletes accounted for event wins in seven of the 10 decathlon disciplines during the two-day competition.

UP NEXT

The remainder of the Chico State men's track & field team opens its season Saturday at the Butte Invitational at the John Cowan Sports Complex in Oroville.