WALNUT CREEK - Four California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) individuals were honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), it was announced on Monday.
Chico State's Michael Wickman and Kirk Freitas were recognized as Men's Track Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, while Josh Como of Cal State L.A. was selected Men's Field Athlete of the Year.
UC San Diego hurdler Linda Rainwater was named Women's Field Athlete of the Year.
Wickman, a senior from Walnut Creek, Calif., is the nation’s second-ranked 1500-meter runner (3:44.03) and is also entered in the 800 meters for the NCAA meet as the No. 9 seed (1:50.76). Wickman won 800 and 1500 titles at the CCAA Championships this spring.
Como, a junior from Moreno Valley, Calif., is the Division II leader in the triple jump, having marked 54-7¼ (16.64m) at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 17. Como is the second-best among all collegians, at all levels this year and is now fifth-best all time in Division II in the event. Como is also entered as the No. 9 seed in the long jump for the NCAA meet with a season’s best of 24-3 (7.39m). Como is receiving mention for the The Bowerman watch list.
Rainwater, a senior from Goleta, Calif., is entered in the high jump for the NCAA Championships and garners the co-national lead in the high jump with a season’s best clearance of 5-10½ (1.79m). Rainwater also scored 5,333 points in the heptathlon at the Mt. SAC Combined Events on April 14 for the third-best mark among Division II this season.
Freitas, in his 30th year at Chico State, has a squad that finished the season ranked No. 1 in the West Region according to the USTFCCCA Region Team Index. With 10 entries for the NCAA Championships, Freitas squad ranks seventh nationally. Chico State won the CCAA Championships for the seventh-consecutive year.