The Chico State men's track & field team split its squad across five meets this weekend, competing throughout Southern California and at Yuba College in one of the program's busiest stretches of the season.
The Wildcats faced deep fields across all three NCAA divisions at the Bryan Clay Invitational, Leopard Invitational, Pacific Coast Invitational, and Beach Invitational, while another group competed at the Yuba Last Chance Meet. Chico State responded with multiple NCAA Division II provisional marks, event victories, and a strong collection of personal-best performances across all event groups.
The sprint group led the charge, highlighted by a dominant weekend from Brody Staley and Trey Suffredini. At the Pacific Coast Invitational, Suffredini won the 400 meters in a personal-best 47.26 to earn an NCAA provisional mark and rank 35th nationally. Staley added a personal-best 21.04 in the 200 meters to improve his provisional standing.
The duo continued their momentum at the Beach Invitational, where Staley ran 46.98 in the 400 meters to move up to 22nd nationally, while Suffredini clocked another provisional mark at 47.33. The Wildcats' 4x400-meter relay group—Logan Cole, Staley, Harrison Hubbard, and Suffredini—posted two provisional marks on the weekend, including a 3:09.38 victory at the Pacific Coast Invitational that ranks ninth nationally.
In the distance events, Damian Garcia delivered another elite performance at the Bryan Clay Invitational, running 3:40.65 in the invitational section of the 1,500 meters. He also posted a personal-best 1:49.66 in the 800 meters. Mario Giannini turned in one of the top distance marks of the weekend, placing fourth in the 10,000 meters invitational with a personal-best 29:04.56.
Additional distance highlights included personal-best performances from Brett Ephraim (1:52.43) and Jacob Camacho (1:54.79) in the 800 meters, as well as Alex Lamoureux's 3:49.89 in the 1,500 meters. Joseph DePascale added a personal best of 9:15.20 in the steeplechase at the Leopard Invitational.
In the field events, Chico State produced strong marks across multiple meets. Niko Lawrence cleared 2.02 meters (6' 7.5") in the high jump at the Beach Invitational, while Chijioke Ihejirka matched the height for a personal best. Nathan Hernandez highlighted the pole vault with a clearance of 4.80 meters (15' 9") to place second.
The throwing group remained consistent throughout the weekend, with Alejandro Molina recording a personal-best 48.02 meters in the discus at the Pacific Coast Invitational. Sean Artist (52.07 meters) and Tyler St. Laurent also posted strong marks in the hammer, while Abraham Schykerynec added a personal best in the shot put.
At the Yuba Last Chance Meet, the Wildcats saw several event victories and podium finishes. The 4x100-meter relay team of Erik Lerner, Collin Totman, Rehaan Patil, and Calvin Smith captured the title in 42.67. Totman also won the long jump at 6.97 meters, while Miguel Long placed second (6.65 meters) and added a runner-up finish in the triple jump.
Tad Desembrana led the throws at Yuba with a victory in the hammer (49.87 meters), while Freddy Southworth (54.59 meters) and Ronin Tidd (53.34 meters) finished second and third, respectively, in the javelin. Lerner added a runner-up finish in the 100 meters to highlight the sprint group's performance.
Chico State Highlights by Meet
Pacific Coast Invitational (Long Beach State)
– Trey Suffredini won the 400m (47.26, NCAA provisional, personal best)
– Brody Staley ran 21.04 in the 200m (PB, improved provisional mark)
– 4x400 relay won in 3:09.38 (NCAA provisional, 9th nationally)
– Logan Cole added a personal-best 48.41 in the 400m
– Alejandro Molina recorded a personal-best 48.02m in discus
Leopard Invitational (La Verne)
– Joseph DePascale ran 9:15.20 in the steeplechase (PB)
– Anders Biel placed ninth in the steeplechase (9:17.39)
– Andrew Stevens ran 15:01.83 in the 5,000m
Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa Pacific)
– Mario Giannini placed fourth in the 10,000m (29:04.56, PB)
– Damian Garcia ran 3:40.65 in the 1,500m invite
– Garcia added a 1:49.66 PB in the 800m
– Brett Ephraim (1:52.43) and Jacob Camacho (1:54.79) posted PBs in the 800m
– Alex Lamoureux ran 3:49.89 (PB) in the 1,500m
Beach Invitational (Long Beach State)
– Brody Staley ran 46.98 in the 400m (NCAA provisional, 22nd nationally)
– Trey Suffredini added another provisional (47.33)
– 4x400 relay ran 3:10.06 (NCAA provisional)
– Nathan Hernandez cleared 4.80m in pole vault (2nd place)
– Niko Lawrence cleared 2.02m in high jump
Yuba Last Chance Meet
– 4x100 relay won in 42.67 (Lerner, Totman, Patil, Smith)
– Collin Totman won long jump (6.97m)
– Miguel Long placed second in long jump and triple jump
– Tad Desembrana won hammer (49.87m)
– Freddy Southworth (2nd) and Ronin Tidd (3rd) placed in javelin
– Erik Lerner placed second in the 100m
Up Next
Chico State will get a week away from competition before preparing to defend its CCAA title at the conference championships, held April 30–May 2 at Mangrum Track & Field on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.
