Canyons Track & Field Competes at CSULB 'Beach Opener'
The event featured both a community college meet and a gathering of athletes from four-year schools, with COC registering entrants in both sections.
Story and photo by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
LONG BEACH — College of the Canyons track & field returned to the LBC for the second time in as many weeks, this time competing in the annual Beach Opener meet hosted by California State University, Long Beach on March 6-7.
The event featured both a community college meet and a gathering of athletes from four-year schools, with COC registering entrants in both sections.
Friday's community college competition featured a number of standout performances for the Cougars.
COC freshman David Salazar won the 1,500m event (4:08.08) and finished runner-up in the 800m (1:56.79) to lead the Cougars.
Sophomore sprinter Evann Adams was second in both the 100m (11.12) and 200m (22.38) events. Fellow speedsters Lavell Bailey finished fourth in the 100m (11.16) while Hasani Fields was eighth in the 400m (51.23).
Adams, Bailey, Fields and Cole Shirakata clocked a time of 43.70 in the 4x100 relay, good for third place.
Shirakata also took second in the 110h (15.42) with teammate Julius Herrera a few paces behind in fourth place (15.47).
For the women's side it was sophomore Megan Carbajal leading the way with her third-place leap in the long jump (4.86m / 15' 11.5"). Carbajal was also sixth in the 400m (1:14.20). She later finished the weekend by competing against student-athletes representing four-year schools, with her throw in the shot put (8.27m / 27' 1.75") ranking 28th overall and 11th among community college competitors.
Other highlights for the women's team included Jaszaya Pardue running to eighth place in the 400m (1:03.74) and Lauren Franco's 11th place mark in the 800m (2:38.99).
Elsewhere in the four-year competition, Canyons freshman Gaetano Ferrera was 18th overall, and third among community college athletes, in the men's shot put (14.17m / 46' 6"). Ferrera also took 20th overall in the discus (42.00m / 137' 9"), which placed him third among community college throwers.
Azad Markosian took 24th in the men's shot put (13.12m / 43' 0.5") which translated to eighth in the community college ranks. In the javelin it was Adam West ranking 21st overall (37.53m / 123' 1") and 13th in the two-year school standings.
Up next, the Cougars will compete at the Bakersfield College Relays on March 13-14.
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.