Chico State distance running alumnus Charlie Serrano, the 2007 Division II 5,000-meter National Champion, has joined the prestigious McMillan Elite Running Team, Wildcats distance coach Gary Towne announced Wednesday. The Flagstaff, Arizona, based program brings together a small number of distance athletes with high athletic potential to train as a group. Runners are invited to the team through a rigorous recruitment and selection process with an eye toward meeting standards for the 2012 Olympics.
Serrano, a 2002 graduate of Royal High School in Simi Valley, spent six years in Chico (five at Chico State and one training as a post-collegiate). He was a seven-time All-American with the Wildcats, notched five top-eight NCAA Championship finishes on the track, and finished sixth at the 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
“We are extremely proud of Charlie and will miss him here in Chico,” said Towne. “The McMillan group is very well supported by Adidas, and thus, very hard to make. We wish Charlie all the best in his newest pursuits and are proud of all that he’s accomplished while here in Chico.”
Serrano is one of just two non-Division I athletes on the McMillan roster, joining former Adams State NCAA champ Celedonio Rodriguez. The pair joins a select group of former Division I All Americans from across the country who benefit from training at an altitude of 7,000-feet.
According to Towne, “The McMillan Elite team was formed by coach Greg McMillan in an effort to develop standout collegiate graduates who are striving to reach Olympic standards. The McMillan athletes have a great set-up, with sponsors covering all housing costs, medical insurance, blood testing, coaching, shoes and equipment, and travel to competitions across the country.”
For more info on the McMillan Elite training group check out their website:
http://www.mcmillanelite.com/
Charlie Serrano in Chico:
2002-2003
Redshirted in cross country and track during his freshman year…Registered a 14:52 5,000-meter personal record (PR).
2003-04
Cross Country
Earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and All-West Region honors as a freshman…Finished 57th at the NCAA Championships.
Track
Logged a 14:25 5,000-meter PR on the track…Earned his first All-American honor at NCAA Championships by finishing 8th in the 5,000-meters as a freshman.
2004-05
Cross Country
Serrano earned All-CCAA and All-West Region honors despite running with a slight injury for most of his sophomore cross country campaign.
Track
Serrano notched a 3:55 1,500-meter PR and lowered his 5,000-meter PR to 14:19 as a sophomore…Won the CCAA 5,000-meter title and went on to earn his second track All-American award on the track by finishing 7th at the NCAA Championships.
2005-06
Cross Country
Earned his first cross country All-American honor by finishing 34th at the National Championships…Won the Willamette Invitational title…Finished third at the CCAA Championships and second at the West Regional.
Track
Broke Chico State’s long-standing 5,000-meter record with a 14:06 PR…Also logged PRs of 3:52 for the 1,500-meters and 29:43 in the 10,000…Won his second straight CCAA 5,000-meter title…Doubles at the National Championships and earns a pair of All-American awards, finishing 5th in the 10,000-meters and 4th in the 5,000 meters.
2006-2007
Cross Country
Finished sixth at the NCAA Championships…Claimed the CCAA title and finished second at the West Regional…Finished fourth at the University of Washington’s Sundodger Invitational with an eight-kilometer cross country PR of 24:08.
Track
An injury cost Serrano much of the season, but after a two-week comeback he qualified for the NCAA 5,000-meter Championships and went on to win the Wildcats’ second-ever distance national title.
2007-2008:
Serrano continued to train with the Wildcats following his graduation (Construction Management) and the fall season brought great results at the longer distances. He placed 6th at the Stanford Invitational with a new 8-kilometer PR (23:43). The next week he finished 11th overall and second among Americans (behind fellow Wildcat Scott Bauhs) at the San Jose Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon with a 1:04.21. Serrano chalked up another 10,000-meter PR in November, this time on the roads of Chico in the Almond Bowl footrace. His 29:38 also broke a long-standing record.