SAN MARCOS, Calif. - It was nine years in the making, the Chico State women's track & field team finished its climb back to the top. Powered by distance dominance, breakthrough performances, and program-wide depth, the Wildcats captured the CCAA Championship—securing their first conference title since 2017 and the 10th in program history.
The victory carried added significance for the program. Coupled with the Chico State men's championship, it marks the first time since 2017 that the Wildcats swept both CCAA team titles—reestablishing Chico State as the conference's premier combined program.
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Chico State methodically built its title-winning performance across three days, highlighted by overwhelming success in the distance events and key scoring efforts across the track and field. The Wildcats' depth was particularly evident in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, where they controlled the competition from the outset. In the 5,000 meters, Chico State delivered a statement performance, sweeping the top five spots and placing eight runners in the top 10, with Iresh Molina leading the charge. The dominance continued in the 10,000 meters, where Molina again led a group of four consecutive Wildcat finishers at the front of the field .
Chico State's depth translated directly to All-CCAA success, with the Wildcats placing multiple athletes on the podium across the meet. Leading the way was Iresh Molina, who earned multiple All-CCAA honors with her victories in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, while Megan Malloy also secured All-CCAA finishes in both distance events. The Wildcats added individual podium performances from Paulina Martins (1500m), Olivia Beschorner (3,000m steeplechase), Teresa Vasconcellos (400m), Kylie Davis (100m hurdles), and Janey Rubio and Charlie Ham in the pole vault, along with a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay—highlighting Chico State's balance across event groups.
Molina's distance double—winning both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters—cemented her as one of the meet's standout performers while repeating as conference champion in both events. She was joined atop the podium by Paulina Martins, who captured the 1500-meter title in 4:35.05, leading a strong showing for Chico State in the event .
Beyond the distance events, the Wildcats saw key performances that strengthened their championship push and positioned several athletes on the national stage. Teresa Vasconcellos earned her first NCAA Division II provisional mark of the season in the 400 meters, running 55.47 seconds to rank among the top 70 in the country . Zoe Aitken added a provisional mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking 10:58.46 to rank 53rd nationally .
In the field, Janey Rubio continued her strong season in the pole vault, improving her NCAA Division II provisional mark by clearing 3.87 meters—now ranking 30th nationally and surpassing a previous mark held by teammate Charlie Ham . Rubio's performance highlighted a consistent scoring presence for Chico State in the vertical jumps.
Leading the Wildcats' return to the top was head coach Oliver Hanf, who was named CCAA Women's Track & Field Coach of the Year for the first time since 2013. The honor marks the fifth in program history on the women's side and adds another milestone to Hanf's decorated career, as he also swept both the men's and women's Coach of the Year awards in the same season for the first time since 2013.
With the conference championship secured, Chico State now turns its focus toward postseason qualification. The Wildcats will travel to Azusa Pacific's Franson Last Chance Meet on May 7–9 for a final opportunity to improve marks ahead of the NCAA Championships selection process.
