Alyssa Hamilton Makes History, Places Fourth at State Championships

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

MONTEREY PARK — College of the Canyons freshman standout swimmer Alyssa Hamilton continues to carve her name into the history books after leaving day two of the CCCAA Swim & Dive State Championships as the most accomplished female swimmer in COC swim & dive program history. 

Hamilton swam to a fourth-place result in the 200-yard freestyle event with a time of 1:57.15 on Friday, May 5 at East L.A. College.

That performance represented the highest finish in a state championship event for a female swimmer in COC swim & dive program history. 

Mia Park of El Camino College was crowned the 200-yard freestyle state champion in the event with a time of 1:51.54. Camryn Bussey of Sierra College (1:54.10) was next followed by Risa Akatsu of Santa Monica (1:55.82) in third and Hamilton in fourth.

Hamilton had previously finished third in the 200-yard freestyle event at the Western State Conference (WSC) championships at a time of 1:57.12.

On Friday, the Hart High School graduate also became the first female swimmer in COC history to race in a finals heat at the state championship meet. 

In 2017, sophomore Jennifer Yamauchi competed in two events at the state championships but did not advance to the finals. Two years before Alexis Kearns competed in two diving events at the 2015 state meet. Kearns placed 14th in the women's 1-meter dive event and 15th in the women's 3-meter dive event that season. 

Hamilton also competed in the 50-yard freestyle event on Thursday during the state championship's opening day, but narrowly missed advancing to the finals.  

Up next, Hamilton will swim in the 100-yard freestyle event on Saturday, May 6 during the meet's final day. Preliminary heats are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with the finals session slated for a 4 p.m. start time from East L.A. College.

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 Sean Kakumu/COC swim & dive