By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

The Cougars competed against a combination of four- and two-year college program at The Master's University (TMU) Invitational on Saturday at Central Park, running in a final tune up before next week's conference event.

COC's men's team placed 18th in the field of 22 schools, but ranked third among the four two-year programs in the field. 

Canyons sophomore Sam Regez was the top performer for the men's side, finishing at a time of 26:09.2 to take 86th in the field of more than 235 runners. 

Cesar Tobar finished in 110th at 26:39.5 and Jerome Hughes checked in at 149th at 27:34.6 to represent the Cougars' top three finishers. 

Nathaniel Wilkinson (28:06.2/128th), Juan Jimenez-Rojas (28:45.1/185th), Jack Eaton (28:48.9/186th), Diego Sanchez (29:49.5/208th), Elijah Dixon (29:50.4/209th), Fernando Osorio (29:52.2/210th) all finished the four-mile course for Canyons. 

Event host TMU won the event with a score of 44, followed by Pomona-Pitzer College (97) and Biola University (107) across the top three spots. 

The women's field included just a pair of two-year schools with the Lady Cougars in the 15th spot joined by 13th-place Glendale College. 

COC freshman Katelyn Catu led the women's team once again with a pace of 24:10.6 on the 5K course. That time placed her 81st in the field of 194 runners.

Sophomore Emily Cruz crossed the finish line at 26:19.8 for 144th and Kaiya Cortinas at 26:48.6 slotted into 153rd. 

Emily Valdez (28:26.0/171st) and Emily Fairbanks (29:20/175th) rounded out the scoring for COC.

Biola (33) and Claremont Mudd Scripps (44) and The Master's University (78) were the top three schools in the women's standings.

Canyons is back in action at the Western State Conference (WSC) Preview being held Friday, Sept. 29 at Oxnard College. Race time is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

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.