Cougars Run Strong at Season-Opening Battle of Regions Meet
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
BAKERSFIELD — College of the Canyons started its season with several strong individual performances at the annual Battle of the Regions event hosted by Bakersfield College on Feb. 9. Team results were not compiled for the event.
Sophomore Zeniah Ellsworth had the top individual finish for the Lady Cougars taking second in the 200m at a time of 26.98. Freshman Katelyn Catu took fourth in the 800m (2:33.65) while Kaiya Cortinas was sixth in the 1500m (5:27.06).
Elsewhere it was Cynthia Reyna finishing eighth in the 100m (16.13). The 4x400 relay team of Ellsworth, Cortinas, Emily Cruz and Catu combined for a time of 4:30.16 to finish third in that event.
For the men's team sophomore Jerome Hughes represented the only individual winner for the Cougars, running to first in the 800m at a pace of 2:03.19.
Nathaniel Wilkinson ran third at a time of 10:26.20 in the 3K steeplechase and Da'Marrie Smith was eighth in the 100m (11.50).
Sophomore Sam Regez turned in a time of 4:13.17 in the 1500m to end in fourth and was also clocked at 9:23.60 to finish sixth in the 3000m.
Heath Arceneaux was 10th in the 400m at 53.45 with teammate Jacob Bates just a few trots behind at 53.63, good for 11th. Alex Megas was clocked at 24.52 in the 200m to wind up in 12th place.
In relay events, Bates, Robert Sarkisyan, Hughes and Arceneaux joined forces for a time of 3:40.91 in the 4x400m. In the 4x100m version of the event Damon Barkus, Colin Cashman, Travis Royal and Megas combined to take third at 46.19.
Canyons Top Performers (W)
- Katelyn Catu – 4th, 800m (2:33.65)
- Kaiya Cortinas – 6th, 1500m (5:27.06)
- Zeniah Ellsworth – 2nd, 200m (26:98)
- Cynthia Reyna – 8th, 100m (16.13)
- 4x400 Relay – 3rd – Z. Ellsworth, K. Cortinas, E. Cruz and K. Catu (4:30.16)
Canyons Top Performers (M)
- Jerome Hughes – 1st, 800m (2:03.19)
- Sam Regez – 4th, 1500m (4:13.17); 6th, 3000m (9:23.60)
- Da'Marrie Smith – 8th, 100m (11.50)
- Nathaniel Wilkinson – 3rd, 3K Steeplechase (10:26.10)
- 4x100 Relay – 3rd – D. Barkus, C. Cashman, T. Royal, A. Megas (46.19)
Upcoming Schedule
The Cougars are back in action at the WSC Relays event hosted by Ventura College on Friday, Feb. 16.
Canyons is then slated to compete at the WSC North meet hosted by Cuesta College on Friday, Feb. 23.
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 X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.