No surprise here as the Chico State men's cross country team was picked to finish first in the CCAA preseason coaches poll.
The Wildcats are coming off their 19th consecutive CCAA Championship and fifth straight NCAA West Region title in 2021. They collected 75 points and eight of nine first-place votes in the preseason poll. The roster shows many familiar names as Chico State returns 2021 Runner of the Year Brayden McLaughlin and four more All-CCAA selections (Dylan White, Cameron Duquette, Charlie Giannini, and Omar Alvarez-Hernandez). The Wildcats’ stretch of 19 consecutive conference titles is the longest in the history of the CCAA for any sport.
| 2022 Men's Cross Country Poll |
| 1. |
Chico State (8) |
75 |
| 2. |
Cal Poly Pomona |
68 |
| 3. |
Cal State San Marcos |
60 |
| 4. |
Stanislaus State |
53 |
| 5. |
Cal State East Bay |
42 |
| 6. |
Cal Poly Humboldt (1) |
39 |
| 7. |
San Francisco State |
28 |
| 8. |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
22 |
| 9. |
Cal State LA |
18 |
| First-place votes in parenthesis |
Cal Poly Pomona collected 68 points to finish second in the poll. The Broncos gained valuable experience with a young roster in 2021 and finished second at the CCAA Championships and third at regionals. All-CCAA selection Vincent Sarino and 2021 Freshman of the Year Daniel Echeveste will be back along with 13 other letterwinners.
Cal State San Marcos placed third in the preseason poll with 60 points. Cal Poly Pomona just edged the Cougars for second place in the 2021 championships (88-83). It was the second consecutive top 3 finish for CSUSM.
Fourth place went to Stanislaus State with 53 points. Jose Garcia, who earned All-CCAA honors with a sixth-place finish in 2021, returns to lead the squad. Five letterwinners will return for the Warriors.
It was another close race for fifth place as Cal State East Bay outpaced Cal Poly Humboldt 42 to 39. The Pioneers return six student-athletes, including Preseason Watchlist member Richard McCain. The Jacks picked up the last remaining first-place vote. They will have one of the most experienced teams in the region with 15 returning letterwinners.
San Francisco State (28 points), Cal State Monterey Bay (22), and Cal State LA (18) rounded out the poll.
The CCAA is once again expected to be the best men's cross country conference in the West Region. Four CCAA teams were listed in the top 10 on the USTFCCCA/Division II rankings, which were released earlier this week. Chico State leads the way as the regional favorite once again.
Click here to see the complete USTFCCCA regional rankings.
The USFTCCCA also released its national rankings on Tuesday, and three CCAA teams were listed among the nation's elite. Chico State is ranked No. 5 and Cal Poly Pomona is No. 22. Cal State San Marcos is listed as one of three teams receiving votes.
The 2022 season starts with five of the nine teams in action this weekend. Cal State LA and Cal State San Marcos compete at the Mark Covert Classic in Brea, while Cal State East Bay and Stanislaus State compete in the USF Invitational. Cal Poly Pomona will be at the Redlands Invitational. Preseason favorites, Chico State, will open its season on Sept. 24 at the Cougar Challenge hosted by Cal State San Marcos.
Click here to see the composite 2022 CCAA men's cross country schedule.
All nine teams will come together to compete for the 2022 CCAA Championship, hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay, on Nov. 5. This will be the first meet of the postseason with NCAA West Regionals following two weeks later (Nov. 19) in Billings, Mont.
CCAA Preseason Watchlist (returning All-CCAA selections)
Omar Alvarez-Hernandez, Chico State
Cameron Duquette, Chico State
Kibrom Elias, Cal State San Marcos
Jose Garcia, Stanislaus State
Charlie Giannini, Chico State
Cole McKain, Cal State East Bay
Brayden McLaughlin, Chico State
Vincent Sarino, Cal Poly Pomona
Dylan White, Chico State