Canyons Wins Both Sides of Home Conference Meet
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons won both sides of the Western State Conference (WSC) Inland Meet hosted at Cougar Stadium on March 21, with Canyons student-athletes combining for 16 first place finishes on the day.
The COC women's team took first in 10 events while amassing 175 event points. Those totals led Santa Monica College (60), Bakersfield College (32), Glendale College (18) and Antelope Valley College (17) in the women's team standings.
Freshman Monique Fulling was the leader on the day winning the 100m (12.37) and 400h (1:08.34) events.
Canyons took the top three spots in the 100m event with Fulling followed closely by Hazel Rhodes (12.40) in second and Syrai Piper (12.89) in third.
Rhodes picked up wins of her own in the 200m (26.01) and javelin (24.98m/81' 11"), while also placing second in the shot put (9.60m/31' 6") and second in the discus (32.39m/106' 3").
Fulling and Rhodes also played a key role in helping the Cougars win both relay races.
In the 4x100m relay it was the team of Fulling, Samantha Rodriguez, Piper and Rhodes posting a first-place time of 50.04. Later, it was Katelyn Catu, Fulling, Piper and Rhodes combining to run a time of 4:11.84 to win the 4x400m relay.
Briana Nodine made her mark in the field events winning both the long jump (4.88m/16' 0.25") and triple jump (9.98m/32' 9") and finishing second in the high jump (1.40m/4' 7").
Samantha Rodriguez won the 100h (17.68) while Amara Shields took the top spot in the 400m (1:02.61) ahead of Catu (1:04.53) in second place.
Victoria Jamison won the 1,500m (4:53.51) and finished second in the 3,000m (11:15.14).
In the 800m event, Canyons took five of the top six spots with Emily Fairbanks leading the way in second place at 2:31.57.
Jessica Clemons recorded a pair of third-place marks in the shot put (8.06m/26' 5.5") and hammer throw (21.57m/70' 9"), also taking fourth in the discus (30.46m/99' 11").
The Canyons men's team won six events and placed first with 96 points to outrun Santa Monica (89), Bakersfield (57), Glendale (33) and Antelope Valley (32).
Freshman Gavin Dion ran first in the 800m (1:57.29) and later placed fourth in the 3,000m (9:22.38).
Derrick Shannon won the discus event with a mark of 36.40m/119' 5"and also placed third in the shot put (10.73m/35' 2.5") and sixth in the javelin (26.06m/85' 6").
Meanwhile, Travis Dyson won the shot put (11.47m/37' 7.75") and placed third in the javelin (32.76m/107' 6"), following up with an eighth-place rank in the discus (28.24m/92' 8").
That trio was joined by Antonio Moore who ran unopposed in both the 110h (15.99) and 400h (1:07.00).
The men's 4x400m relay team of Moore, Alex Megas, Josh Smith and Dion clocked a time of 3:31.14 to also win that event.
Elsewhere, Dre Kermah placed second in both the 100m (11.06) and 200m (22.63), while Smith ran third in the 200m (22.91) and second in the 400m (50.39).
Nathaniel Wilkinson finished second in the 1500m at 4:09.15.
Upcoming Schedule
Canyons is slated to compete at the annual Arnie Robinson Invitational hosted by San Diego Mesa College on Friday, March 28. Events begin at 11 a.m.
After a brief hiatus, conference competition continues at the WSC Prelims on Friday, April 18, at Ventura College.
Top Performers (M)
- Gavin Dion – 1st, 800m (1:57.29); 4th, 3,000m (9:22.38)
- Travis Dyson – 1st, Shot (11.47m/37' 7.75"); 3rd, Jav, (32.76m/107' 6"); 8th (28.24m/92' 8")
- Dre Kermah – 2nd, 100m (11.06); 2nd, 200m (22.63)
- Antonio Moore – 1st, 110h (15.99); 1st, 400h (1:07.00)
- Derrick Shannon – 1st, Discus (36.40m/119' 5"); 3rd, Shot, 10.73m/35' 2.5"); 6th, Jav (26.06m/85' 6")
- Josh Smith – 2nd, 400m (50.39); 3rd, 200m (22.91)
- 4x400m Relay – 1st (3:31.14)-Moore, A. Megas, Smith, Dion
Top Performers (W)
- Monique Fulling – 1st, 100m (12.37); 400h (1:08.34);
- Victoria Jamison – 1st, 1,500m (4:53.51); 2nd, 3,000m (11:15.14)
- Briana Nodine – 1st, LJ (4.88m/16' 0.25"); 1st, TJ (9.98m/32' 9"); 2nd, HJ (1.40m/4' 7")
- Hazel Rhodes – 1st, 200m (26.01); 1st, Jav (24.98m/81' 11"); 2nd, 100m (12.40); 2nd, Disc (32.39m/106' 3")
- 4x100m Relay – 1st, (50.54)-Fulling, S. Rodriguez, S. Piper, Rhodes
- 4x400m Relay – 1st, (4:11.84)-K. Catu, Fulling, S. Piper, Rhodes
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.