COC Track & Field Enjoys Big Day at WSC Inland Meet

Stock action image of College of the Canyons track & field student-athlete JT Saenz competing in the triple-jump event.
Results
March 26, 2024

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director   

BAKERSFIELD — College of the Canyons turned in its top performance of the season thus far with a spectacular showing at the Western State Conference (WSC) Inland Meet hosted by Bakersfield College on March 22. 

COC's men's team (143) finished runner-up behind host Bakersfield (194) while taking the top spot in four events. The Lady Cougars (37) finished fourth while running to six personal records. Bakersfield (209) also won the women's meet.

JT Saenz competed in five events and earned points for the Cougars in all of them. Saenz, the current men's COC student-athlete of the week, won the high jump with a leap of 5'7" and was also tops in the triple jump at 12.78m / 41' 11.25". The freshman took fourth in the long jump (6.39m/20' 11.75m) and ran to a time of 11.61 to finish sixth in the 100m. 

Da'Marrie Smith was the leader for Canyons in the 100m finishing third at 11.25. Smith was one of five Cougars that logged top-eight times in the event. Lyndon Ravare (11.31) was fourth followed by Saenz in sixth, Alex Megas in seventh (11.73) and Andre Bray (11.76) in eighth.

Later it was Smith, Saenz, Bray and Ravare teaming to place second in the 4x100 relay at 42.97.

Bray was also active elsewhere leaping to second in the long jump (6.67m/21' 10.75") and third in the triple jump (11.45m/37" 6.75"). Same for Barkus who made his mark with a runner-up finish behind Saenz in the high jump (5'5") and another second-place result in the triple jump (11.83m/38' 9.75"). Barkus was also fifth in the long jump (5.81m/19' 0.75") and discus (29.53m/96' 10") to round out a very productive day. Ravare took fourth in the 100m (11.31) and fifth in the 200m (22.76).

In the 4x400 relay it was Heath Arceneaux, Sam Regez, Robert Sarkisyan and Jerome Hughes coming in at 3:29.96, goof for third 

Hughes was also an individual event winner, topping the field in the 800m at 1:59.18. Arceneaux was second in the 400h at 1:01.28 

Travis Royal won the javelin at 44.80m/147' ahead of teammate Delamonte Barnes in third (37.18m/122'). Barnes was sixth in the shot put (9.75m/32') with teammate Colin Cashman in seventh (9.52m/31' 3")

In women's events it was Kaiya Cortinas running to victory in the 800m at season-best pace of 2:33.11. Cortinas is also the current women's COC student-athlete of the week. Later, Cortinas placed third in the 1500m at 5:25.8.

Emily Fairbanks ran close behind those times taking third in the 800m (2:38.83) and sixth in the 1500m (5:37.88). Likewise, it was Emily Cruz running fourth in the 800m (2:42.04) and fifth in the 1500m (5:35.35).

Zeniah Ellsworth was runner-up in the 400m after crossing the finish line at 59.71. Cynthia Reyna was the only other competitor for the Lady Cougars, running seventh in the 100m (16.57).

Up next, a trip south to compete at the Arnie Robinson Invitational hosted by San Diego Mesa College on Friday, March 29.

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.