Buncio is Runner-Up to Lead Cougars at Oxy Invite

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — After starting the season with back-to-back conference events, the Cougars track & field program competed in its second four-year college meet in as many weeks, this time at Saturday's Oxy Distance Carnival hosted by Occidental College.

Canyons entered individual athletes in a handful of events but did not factor in the team scoring. The meet included a combination of programs from four-year schools, community colleges and amatuer running clubs, as well as unattached individual athletes. 

A full list of event results is included here.

COC sophomore Delon Buncio had the biggest showing of the weekend by finishing runner-up in the men's long jump with a mark of 6.81m (22' 4.25"). That distance is the top measurement posted by a Western State Conference (WSC) athlete this season.

Cougar freshman Andrew Mercado took third in the same event with a personal-best distance jump of 6.78m (22' 3"). Both Mercado and Buncio narrowly trailed event winner Titus Houston of Cerritos College at 6.97m (22' 10.5").

Freshman Jordan Palmer has paced Canyons all season in the throwing events and do so again at the Oxy event. Palmer's throw of 14m (45' 11.25") ranked fourth on the day. He also finished eighth in the discus with a toss of 40.19m (131' 10").

Canyons freshman Tatiana Smith was the top finisher for the Lady Cougars with an eighth-place time of 12.76 in the 100m. Elsewhere, sophomore Amanda Finn logged a personal best time of 20:25.32 in the 5000m.

COC next heads north for the Bakersfield College Relays & Multis March 15-16.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

— Photo by Lindie Kane/COC Sports Information