[Results] [Race photos] [Award photos]
Chico State's Rory Abberton said it best when accepting his 2022 CCAA Runner of the Year award, "this streak of 20 consecutive conference championships began before some of the guys on the team were even born."
That really puts into perspective how impressive the streak of CCAA Championships has been for the Chico State men's cross country team. The Wildcats added to their total on Saturday at the Palo Corona Cross Country Course, making it an even 20 years.
Abberton finishes first with a time of 24:49.9 to edge teammate Jack Emanuel (24:49.9) for the top spot on the men's side. Abberton was behind the lead pack after the first lap on the 8k course, but he turned it on to seize the lead halfway through the race. He and Emanuel went back and forth for the top spot, but a late kick by the senior from Torrance gave him his first collegiate win. Emanuel earned his fourth consecutive All-CCAA honor with a CCAA-championship career-best finish.
Abberton and Emanuel were the first Wildcats to cross the finish line, and they did not have to wait long to find out their final score as four more runners finished in the top 9. Cameron Duquette placed fourth with a time of 24:53.3, and the 2021 CCAA Runner of the Year Brayden McLaughlin finished fifth (24:58.8). Omar Alvarez-Hernandez (25:08.4) came in eighth, and Daniel Hernandez (25:09.3) placed ninth as the first alternate. The Wildcats completed their scoring with 20 points.
This was the 10th time during their 20-year run in which the Wildcats have scored 20 or fewer points on their way to a conference title.
Cal Poly Pomona had four runners earn All-CCAA honors, and the Broncos placed second at the championships with 55 points. Leandro Candray (24:59.1) and Ricardo Vargas (25:03.4) finished back-to-back, placing seventh and eighth. Vargas' finish earned him CCAA Newcomer of the Year honors as he was the first conference newcomer to cross the finish line. Vincent Sarino placed 10th, and Daniel Echeveste finished 13th. Thomas McDonnell's 19th-place finish completed the scoring for the Broncos.
Cal State San Marcos earned 105 points to place in the top 3 for the fifth consecutive year. Stanislaus State was fourth (128 points), and Cal Poly Humboldt placed fifth for the Jacks best finish since 2015.
Stanislaus State's Cooper Freeman was selected as CCAA Freshman of the Year after posting a time of 26:11.3.
Cal State East Bay's Justin Matties took home the CCAA Elite 13 award for having the top grade point average of all male student-athletes at the CCAA Championships.
Many of these teams will continue their season on Nov. 19 at the NCAA West Regional in Billings, Mont., and earn a trip to the National Championships on Dec. 2 at University Place, Wash.
| 2022 CCAA Men's Cross Country Championship Results |
| 1 |
Chico State |
20 (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9*, 17*) |
| 2 |
Cal Poly Pomona |
55 (6, 7, 10, 13, 19, 21*, 27*) |
| 3 |
San Marcos |
105 (11, 16, 18, 31, 37, 46*, 48*) |
| 4 |
Stanislaus State |
128 (3, 14, 30, 43, 50, 52*, 65*) |
| 5 |
Cal Poly Humboldt |
145 (12, 22, 35, 44, 45, 49*, 57*) |
| 6 |
Cal State East Bay |
150 (15, 23, 34, 39, 53, 54*, 58*) |
| 7 |
San Francisco State |
161 (25, 32, 33, 42, 47, 67*, 71*) |
| 8 |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
163 (26, 36, 38, 40, 41, 61*, 69*) |
| DNP |
Cal State LA |
--- (51, 72, 74, 76) |
| 2022 CCAA Men's Cross Country Awards |
| Runner of Year |
Rory Abberton, Chico State |
| Newcomer of the Year |
Ricardo Vargas, Cal Poly Pomona |
| Freshman of the Year |
Cooper Freeman, Stan State |
| Coach of the Year |
Gary Towne, Chico State |
| Elite 13 |
Justin Matties, Cal State East Bay |
| 2022 CCAA Men's Cross Country All-Conference Team |
| 1 |
Rory Abberton |
Chico State |
24:45.2 |
| 2 |
Jack Emanuel |
Chico State |
24:49.9 |
| 3 |
Medhane Woldu |
Stanislaus State |
24:52.8 |
| 4 |
Cameron Duquette |
Chico State |
24:53.3 |
| 5 |
Brayden McLaughlin |
Chico State |
24:58.8 |
| 6 |
Leandro Candray |
Cal Poly Pomona |
24:59.1 |
| 7 |
Ricardo Vargas |
Cal Poly Pomona |
25:03.4 |
| 8 |
Omar Alvarez-Hernandez |
Chico State |
25:08.4 |
| 9 |
Daniel Hernandez |
Chico State |
25:09.3 |
| 10 |
Vincent Sarino |
Cal Poly Pomona |
25:12.4 |
| 11 |
Ruben Pina |
San Marcos |
25:17.1 |
| 12 |
Nick Brichta |
Cal Poly Humboldt |
25:19.3 |
| 13 |
Daniel Echeveste |
Cal Poly Pomona |
25:22.5 |
| 14 |
Cristian Alcantar |
Stanislaus State |
25:26.4 |
| 15 |
Cole McKain |
Cal State East Bay |
25:30.1 |