The Chico State men’s cross country team, winners of seven straight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and West Region titles and a top-10 national finisher in each of the last 10 years, is ranked No. 3 in the nation in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason rankings. The Chico State women’s team, winner of five CCAA and four West Region titles in the past eight years, is ranked No. 7.

The Wildcats open up their 2009 season at the Asics/UC Irvine Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Chico State’s men return cross country All-Americans Beau Rogers, Michael Wickman and Brendan Scanlon, along with All-West Region standout Jordan Fairley and All-CCAA competitors Alan Campos, Tim Cannon, and Thomas Whitcomb. The Wildcats finished third in the nation last season behind the two teams ranked ahead of them in the preseason rankings, top-ranked Adams State and No. 2 Western State.

The Chico State women’s team returns seven athletes who finished among the top-15 at last season’s CCAA Championships, and four athletes who earned All-West Region accolades, including Tori Tyler, who finished second in the West Region and 16th at the National Championships despite sustaining a broken rib and foot in a fall. Fellow All-Region competitors Julie Shaw, Alia Gray and Kara Lubieniecki are primed to help lead the charge in 2009, along with All-CCAA runners Stephanie Consiglio, Shannon Rich, and Colleen Joyce.

The Wildcats finished seventh in the nation last season, and are currently ranked behind the six teams that finished ahead of them at the national championships, including No. 1 Adams State.

Men's and Women's National Rankings

Men's Regional Rankings

Women's Regional Rankings