Cougar Track & Field Teams Look Strong at Vaquero Classic

The College of the Canyons track and field program continues to compete at a high level, with the Cougars posting another strong showing at the Vaquero Classic hosted by Glendale Community College on April 9.

The COC men's and women's teams combined for five first place finishes, with Lady Cougar Alexandra Whitman leading the way by placing first in two events.

Whitman, took first in the 5000m with a time of 18:43.91, then came back to win the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:59.24 while narrowly holding off several of her COC teammates. 

Canyons dominated the steeplechase event, with Amanda De Jesus (11:59.29), Lizeth Flores (12:08.25) and Chelsea Wells (12:09.81) finishing second, third and fourth respectively. 

Sophomore Marissa Kneisel also claimed a first place finish at the meet, with a mark of 5.43m in the long jump.

Tisian Nealy finished second in the 400m (59.74) for COC, and freshman Dana Bowers took second in the javelin (35.72m), fourth in the high jump (1.35m), fifth in the hammer throw (34.47m) and sixth in the shot put (10.69m).

On the men's side Ethan Walker took first place in the 1500m (3:59.03), narrowly beating out teammate Jason Hillquist who placed second (3:59.39). 

Walker also took second in he 5000m with a time of 15:22.61.

Sophomore Cole Mears was the only other first place finisher, with a mark of 48.60m in the javelin.

Carson Lysik took second in the triple jump at 12.78m and Randle Williams was a second place finisher in the 400m at a time of 49.60.

COC's 4x100 relay team of Jonathan Choi, James Berkley, Mears and Robert Brennan also finished second with a time of 42.84.

Individually, Brennan took third in the 100m (11.36) and fourth in the 200m (22.84). 

The Cougars will return to action on Friday, April 22, as COC host the 2016 Western State Conference (WSC) Prelims at Cougar Stadium. Throwing events will begin at 11 a.m. with competition continuing through the afternoon and into the evening.