Chico State Athletics

2019–20
Opened the cross country season with a 37th place finish (8k time of 26:42.6) September 13 at the Stump Invitational…Recorded season-best 8k time of 25:01.7 on the way to a fifth place finish September 28, 2019 at the Capital Cross Challenge…Final race of the fall yielded a 39th place finish and a 10k time of 33:18.4 October 12, 2019 at the Western Washington Classic…Did not compete in the abbreviated 2020 track & field season.
 
2018–19
Red Shirted both cross country and track, and did not compete in either the fall or spring.
 
Pre-Chico Days
Cruz was a top runner for Cal State East Bay team since joining the Pioneers in the fall of 2016…On the track, Pedro logged PR’s of 14:54 in the 5k and 30:48 for the 10k during his true freshman year of competition…Earned All-CCAA honors in cross country with his 13th place finish at the 2017 championships…Went on to place 47th at the NCAA West Region meet…Lettered in both cross country and track at Arvin High School…Two-time league XC champion…On the oval, was the league’s top 1,600m runner for three straight seasons.
 
Personal
Born May 13, 1998, in Michoacan, Mexico…Son of Pedro and Aida…Has three younger siblings: Danny, David, and Alex…The person he most admires in the sports world is Kobe Bryant (“His most important lesson was family over everything”)…Favorite instructor at Chico State is Dr. Cathrine Himberg of the kinesiology department…Why he chose to attend Chico State: “For (the cross country program’s) history. The program has accomplished a lot. I wanted to be a part of that history and learn from a coach with continuous success. Chico State also has a great kinesiology program”…His greatest sports moment was receiving an offer to go to college and run…The most interesting thing he’s ever done is mountain biking in upper Bidwell Park and surviving…The most impressive thing he’s ever accomplished is finishing his undergraduate studies and continuing school for his master’s degree…Has learned by running cross country that “mental toughness is a valuable skill to have, and patience will be your best friend”…Enjoys mountain biking when he has some free time…At the top of his bucket list: “Going skydiving”…Best advice ever received: “Patience is key”…Majoring in kinesiology.
 
Personal Best Marks
8k XC: 24:40 (Cal State East Bay)
10k XC: 31:33 (Cal State East Bay)
1,500m: 4:01 (Cal State East Bay)
5,000m: 14:54 (Cal State East Bay)
10,000m: 30:48.81 (Cal State East Bay)