Chico State Runners Earned Third at Invitational

Despite racing with only six athletes, the team outperformed several Division I programs in Oregon.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Running

Chico State Runners Earned Third at Invitational

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The Chico State women's cross country team secured a third-place finish at the Bill Dellinger Invitational. The team performed well despite competing with only six runners and missing teammate Della Molina due to illness.

Why it matters

The team's performance highlights the efficacy of sustained pacing strategies in distance running, as they advanced from 10th place early in the race to a podium finish. This result demonstrates how strategic recovery and positioning can overcome numerical disadvantages in collegiate athletics.

In the official race results from the Bill Dellinger Invitational, Chico State scored 115 points to finish behind Oregon and the University of Victoria. The placement was confirmed based on individual finish times across a field that included multiple Division I programs.

The players

Chico State women's cross country team

The university's competitive distance running program that emphasizes team-based scoring and strategic pacing.

Megan Malloy

A cross country athlete who placed eighth in the invitational with a time of 20 minutes and 48.7 seconds.

Paulina Martins

A cross country athlete who contributed to the team score with an 11th-place finish.

The details

The runners utilized a progressive pacing strategy to manage their limited squad size, climbing from 10th place at the opening kilometer to third by the finish. Individual athletes like Kira Forsberg demonstrated significant late-race endurance by passing 57 competitors to move from 93rd to 36th place. Megan Malloy led the effort with an eighth-place finish, supported by a strong final kilometer time of 3:23.

October 9, 2026: The Bill Dellinger Invitational race took place in Springfield, Oregon.

Health Landscape

The Bill Dellinger Invitational remains a key venue for gauging collegiate athletic performance against national benchmarks. This result underscores how targeted endurance training enables teams to maintain competitive parity within large-scale athletic events.

For runners managing their own training loads, the team's ability to maintain pace from the opening kilometer to the finish emphasizes the value of aerobic capacity and gradual speed acceleration. This performance reinforces the importance of consistent long-distance training when preparing for endurance events.

The takeaway

Strategic pacing and sustained endurance are essential for maximizing performance in distance events. Runners can prioritize these goals by consulting with a coach or experienced peer to develop a structured training plan that builds cardiovascular health over time.