LA JOLLA – Sadie Gastelum finished second overall and the team's freshman class continued to impress as a shorthanded Chico State women's cross country team finished second in a close race at the 24^th annual Triton Classic on the campus of UC San Diego.
 
The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 4 in the nation entering the weekend, were nipped by Point Loma 54-60. Host UC San Diego was also in the mix with just 69 points. Defending champion Cal State San Bernardino, led by race winner Laura Aceves, finished fourth with 103 points.
 

Aceves beat Gastelum to the line by 10 seconds, claiming the six-kilometer race that meanders mostly through a huge Eucalyptus grove on narrow trails, in 21:46.03.
 
True freshman Nora Pizzella, who has shown improvement in each of her three races, was the top freshman finisher, clocking in at 3:46.7. Kayden Carpenter finished 15^th, Hannah Dorman 17^th, and Desirae Jones completed the team's scoring in 19^th. Pizzella, Carpenter, Jones, and Jennifer Giguere (19^th) were the first four freshmen to finish out of 49 in the field.
 
The Wildcats ran without four of their top competitors: Karlie Garcia, McCall Habermehl, Alex Burkhart and Haley Kroll. Head Coach Gary Towne hopes to have all four healthy and ready to go for the postseason.
 
Despite that, the team's depth was still impressive. The Wildcats had nine runners across the finish line before any other team's sixth, and 11 before any team's seventh.
 
The postseason begins Oct. 22 at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships in San Bernardino at Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park.
 
Overall Results
1. Point Loma – 54
2. Chico State – 60
3. UC San Diego – 69
4. Cal State San Bernardino – 103
5. Central Arizona CC – 121
6. Fresno Pacific – 137
7. Cal State L.A. – 168
8. Christian Brothers – 274
9. Southwestern CC - 296
10. Palomar CC – 316
11. San Diego Christian – 325
12. Grossmont CC – 337
  
Chico State Individuals (out of 115 finishers)
2. Sadie Gastelum – 21:56.45
11. Nora Pizzella – 22:40.24
15. Kayden Carpenter – 23:04.82
17. Hannah Dorman – 23:08.91
19. Desirae Jones – 23:21.54
21. Jennifer Giguere – 23:22.58
24. Julie Finn – 23:30.95
25. Camila Turati – 23:34.65
29. Jacqueline Adams – 23:45.51
32. Montana Loveday – 24:00.63
35. Danielle Oden – 24:06.24
44. Yajaira Zarate – 24:36.44
54. Veronica Garcia – 25:04.48

COMPLETE RESULTS