Chavez Has Top 10 Finish at NAIA Nationals
UC Merced's Jonathan Chavez shaved almost eight seconds off Wednesday's preliminary time in the final of the 1500-meter race at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Indiana Wesleyan in Marion, Ind. Chavez, the most decorated distance runner in California Pacific Conference history, ran a 3:50.88 to finish 9th in the field of 12 runners. His time was two seconds off his personal best set in April at the Cal State LA Twilight Open.
Chavez closed out his stellar track and trail career at UCM. In three years at the Cal Pac Track & Field Championships, the senior from Hilmar, Calif., amassed 11 victories in individual and relay events, garnering three Male Athlete of the Year awards as he led his team to three consecutive team titles.
On the cross country trails, Chavez has been equally as successful. A two-time conference Runner of the Year, he earned All-American honors in 2023. He has recorded three of the top 10 all-time 8k runs in Cal Pac history, highlighted by his 24:10 at the Bronco Invitational in October of 2023, the second-best mark in conference annals. After placing on the All-Cal Pac Second Team as a freshman in 2020, Chavez earned First Team honors in each of the next three seasons. He also holds the fastest time at the Cal Pac Championship meet, clocking a 24:18 in 2023—the fifth-fastest time record in conference history.