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Click here to see a slideshow of the track meet
Six, six, six - with three athletes earning sixth place all-time track and field records, the Wildcats had an impressive show at their annual Chico Twilight Distance Carnival this past weekend.
University Stadium hosted many championship-bid hopefuls, as athletes stepped up to earn a spot in the May nationals held in San Angelo, Tex.
Former Chico State running legend, Scott Bauhs also drew crowds as he competed in the 1,500-meter race.
Senior Matt Jarvis led the Wildcat men, continuing to shine as he earned himself an automatic bid to the NCAA championships. Jarvis now holds the record for the sixth-best throw in Chico State History, winning with a shot put throw of 17.28 meters.
While finishing second overall this weekend, Jarvis also earned a provisional bid to the NCAA championships in the hammer throw competition with a throw of 46.84 meters.
Though Jarvis has won a provisional bid, he is able to compete for a national title assuming his score holds up for the rest of season, which ends April 25.
Wildcat senior Johntay Cokley also earned a provisional bid to the national championships as she posted one of the year's best finishing times in the women's 800-meter competition. Her time, 2:14.64, is the 12th fastest time in Division II this year and the sixth fastest in Chico State history.
Cokley had been running very well and this performance was one that will allow her to take the next step, said women's track coach Oliver Hanf.
"This performance definitely shows what she is capable of doing this year," Hanf said.
Junior Ryan Bertucci won the high-jump competition with a jump of 2.09 meters, granting him a bid to the championships, as well.
"The jump before, I was easily eight inches over it, so I knew I'd get the 2.09 mark," Bertucci said. "I was pretty confident in making the jump."
Wildcat junior Oliver Shabram blew away the competition in the men's 400-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 53.17 seconds, the sixth fastest in Chico State history.
Wildcats sophomore runner Kara Lubieniecki also earned herself a bid after winning the women's 1500-meter run in impressive fashion.
Lubieniecki pulled away from the Wildcat pack in the home stretch, easily winning with a lead-time of 4:36.10, the sixth fastest time in Chico State history.
Lubieniecki is one of the many young, talented runners the track and field team has this year, said Hanf.
"What we do have this year is a little more depth with the young talents," Hanf said. "That will really help us out at the conference championship this year, as we will have athletes competing in all 22 events."
In addition to the success of the Wildcat team, spectators and athletes were able to see Bauhs return to Chico State.
The return was familiar for Bauhs, who graduated from Chico State in December.
"Nothing has changed since I left," Bauhs said. "The only difference is I don't have to go to class anymore."
In the 1,500-meter race, Bauhs stayed in the middle of the pack for the first lap, gearing up to make his move later in the race. On the second lap, Bauhs and fellow professional runner Steve Sherer, pulled ahead of the pack.
However, it was Bauhs who had more left in the tank in the third lap and gained a large lead down the home stretch, much to the pleasure of fans who gave him a standing ovation as he crossed the finish line.
Bauhs finished with a time of 3:41.34, which was Chico State's best mark by 1.29 seconds.
Next up for Bauhs is a couple of 5k runs, which will set him up for the U.S. championships, he said.
"I'm going to do a 5k in Berkeley in two weeks and then another one down in Southern California," Bauhs said. "Then I'll gear up for the U.S. Championships in Eugene."
The Chico State team will hit the road next week by competing in the Mt. SAC relays in Walnut. The team will return to the University Stadium for the California Collegiate Athletic Association championships at the end of the month.
The team is amped to be able to perform in the conference championships in front of its home crowd, Hanf said.
"I think our performance today shows what we can do in the conference championships," he said. "The championships is something that we've been looking at on our calendar from the beginning of the season."
Shane Zanze can be reached at szanze@theorion.com
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