Cougars Track & Field Opens Season at Annual 'Battle of Regions'

College of the Canyons track & field logo.
Results
February 13, 2023

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

BAKERSFIELD — College of the Canyons officially started the 2023 track & field season with a trip to Bakersfield College for the annual 'Battle of the Regions' season-opening event.

Canyons saw a number of strong individual performances from both the men's and women's teams to highlight a day in which the Cougars' main goal weas to establish baseline times and marks ahead of the upcoming conference meets later this month.

COC sophomore Milca Osorio was tops on the team in distance events taking fourth in the 3000m (11:19.81) and sixth in the 1500m (5:25.01). Sophomore Maylani Perez finished eighth in the 800m (2:47.34). Osorio and Perez were both key members of the college's women's cross country team for the past two seasons.

Canyons also showed promise in both hurdles events behind third-place finished freshman Samantha Rodriguez (400h/1:15.41) and Trinity Winslow (100h/17.87).

For the men's side it was Jerome Hughes shining bright for a second-place result in the 400m (50.88) and taking third in the 200m (23.03). Joshua Christopher finished right behind Hughes in the 400m at third place (51.20).

Later, it was the combination of Christopher, Hughes, Heath Arceneaux and Layne Buck posting a time of 3:28.24 in the 4x400 event.

Buck also took sixth in the long jump with a mark of 6.26m / 20' 6'5".

Other programs competing at the event included Allan Hancock, Antelope Valley, Fresno, Fullerton, Glendale, Moorpark, Saddleback and Sequoias

Full event results are available here.

Canyons Top Performers (W)

Canyons Top Performers (M)

  • Joshua Christopher – 3rd place, 400m (51.20)
  • Jerome Hughes – 2nd place, 400m (50.88); 3rd place, 200m (23.03)
  • Philip Vizmanos – 4th place, Pole Vault (3.51m / 11' 6.25")
  • 4x400 Relay – 2nd place - The combination of J. Christopher, J. Hughes, H. Arceneaux and L. Buck posted a time of 3:28.24. 

Upcoming Schedule

The Cougars will be back on the track Friday, Feb. 17 at the Western State Conference (WSC) Relays hosted by Ventura College.

From there, it's back to Bakersfield for WSC No. 1 on Friday, Feb. 24.

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.