CHICO – Thanks to the tireless recruiting efforts of Head Coach Gary Towne, the 2010 Chico State men’s cross country team has been strengthened significantly with an array of talented runners, as high school standouts Tommy McGuan, Johnny Sanchez, Dylan Anthony and Alan Cuevas, along with junior college transfers Joseph Rivera and Anthony Costales, have signed their National Letter of Intent to compete for the Wildcats this fall.

McGuan comes to Chico after starring at Canyon High in Canyon Country, Calif., a school with a great distance running tradition. This past spring, McGuan posted an 18th place overall finish with a time of 15:37 at the California State Cross Country championships, was sixth in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals (15:19), and finished second in the Foothill League finals with a time of 15:12, while earning first team All-CIF and All-Foothill League honors. “We’re very excited to have Tommy aboard next year,” Chico State Head Coach Gary Towne said. “We expect that he’ll be a solid part of our future success.”

A four year varsity runner, Sanchez hails from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, and is arguably the best cross country athlete in Rough Riders history. Sanchez capped off his high school career with a ninth place finish in the California State Cross Country Championships, matching his school record of 15:31 set while finishing second in the Central Section D-III final. “Johnny was very high on our wish list of hopeful Wildcats,” Towne said. “He is a hard worker, a great person, and a talented young distance runner.  I have a lot of confidence in saying that I believe that Johnny has a great future ahead of him here in Chico.”

Anthony, from Alaska’s Kodiak High School, will be reunited with former prep teammate Miles Dunbar when he joins the Wildcats this fall. A winner in six of the nine cross country events he competed in as a senior, Anthony ran a 15:41 to take top honors in the Alaska State Cross Country Championships. “Dylan is one of the better talents to have come out of the state of Alaska, and we’re fortunate enough to have him joining our team here at Chico State,” Towne said. “I couldn’t be happier in Dylan’s decision to become a Wildcat and look forward to the impact that he’s sure to have on our program.” Anthony also posted PR’s in the 1,600 (4:20) and 3,200 (9:22) meter runs at the recent 2010 Alaska State Track and Field Championships.

Cuevas joins the Wildcats following an outstanding career at Corona High School, where he excelled in both cross country and track. A three time All-Big VIII League selection, Cuevas posted a PR of 14:52 last September at the Woodbridge Invitational and was a key factor in the Panthers winning their seventh straight league championship. Last spring at the Azusa Meet of Champions, Cuevas delivered a personal best 4:22 in the 1,600-meter run and a school record time of 9:17 in the 3,200-meter run, and following the 2009 season was named Corona High’s most valuable distance runner. “Alan has shown the potential to run very well at the high school level,” Towne said. “His sub 9:20 3,200-meter PR says a lot about the talent that he possesses. If we can keep him healthy and his training consistent, he’ll be a great college runner.”

Rivera, out of Visalia’s College of the Sequoias, comes to Chico after an impressive 2009 cross country season that included an individual title at the Coast Valley Conference Championships and a fourth place finish at State JC Championships with a time of 20:13 on the four mile Woodward Park course. Competing in track and field this spring, Rivera registered a personal best time of 3:56 in the 1,500-meter run to take top honors in the Nor Cal JC Championships. “Joseph is a quality young man that is a proven talent and a great person,” Towne said. “He’s one of the top distance runners at the community college level and should help provide an immediate impact on a squad that graduated several All Americans this year.” Rivera also starred in cross country and track and field at Tulare Western High School.

One of California’s top junior college runners at American River College, Costales was the 2008 Nor Cal Championships runner-up and finished eighth at the 2008 State JC Cross Country Championships during his sophomore season. “Anthony has had an interest in Chico State since his arrival at ARC,” Towne said. “Having watched him develop and mature as a collegiate distance runner, I’m confident Anthony will be an important part of the equation for the ‘Cats in the coming two years.” Costales was a standout in both cross country and track and field at Fairfield High School.