State title and more for Cougar track and field
For the last month, College of the Canyons freshman Ethan Walker has been running like a man on mission.
That mission? To establish himself as one of the premiere distance runners in the state of California.
Last weekend, Walker may have accomplished that feat.
The Saugus High graduate concluded his first year at COC by winning a California Community College Athletic Association State Championship in the 3,000 meter steeplechase during the state meet held Friday and Saturday in San Mateo.
Walker took the lead on the final backstretch of the event, which included seven and a half laps studded with 28 hurdles and seven water jumps.
After successfully navigating those obstacles Walker finished with a winning time of 9 minutes, 16.32 seconds — good for tops in the state this season.
His time was also the third fastest in the nation by a community college athlete this year. As a result, he has been named a JC All-American in that event.
On Friday, Walker also placed second in the 10,000 meter with a time of 31:23.75, earning a second JC All-American honor in the process.
The following day, after winning the steeplechase in the morning, he came back that afternoon to finish third in the 5,000 meter event at a pace of 15:01.44, while picking up a third JC All-American award.
"It takes a very special athlete to triple in the distances races at an event like the state championships," said COC track & field head coach Lindie Kane.
"Ethan is one of the best track and field athletes to compete for College of the Canyons. He has a tremendous work ethic, the passion to compete and the drive to win. Those qualities are hard to beat," Kane added.
Walker's 2015 individual state title is the sixth in COC track and field program history, and the fourth won under Kane.
Track and field
As a whole, COC sent 11 student-athletes to last weekend's state championship meet, with several returning home after helping to rewrite the COC record books.
"It was a phenomenal performance," Kane said. "And a great end to a record-breaking season."
COC freshman Mikala Fairchild was the top finisher on the women's side after taking second place in the 1,500 meter (4:37.15) and third in 3,000 meter (17:52.61) — while setting a new school record in the latter event.
Fairchild was also named a JC All-American in both events.
Also earning All-American status was freshman Samiyah Hawkins whose mark of 40.97 meters in the discus was also a new COC record.
Freshman Amanda De Jesus placed seventh in women's 3,000 meter steeplechase with a school record time 11:47.56.
Meanwhile, sophomore Dominique Dowell capped her Cougar career with a ninth-place finish and school record time of 39:12.48 in the 10,000 meter event.
Freshman Jada Selexman placed seventh in the heptathlon with a combined score of 3,672.
Selexman was also a member of the college's ninth place 4x400 meter relay team that included Tisian Nealy, Zakora Merriweather and Ariana Cooper.
Merriweather also finished 10th in the high jump at 1.46 meters.
As a team, the women's program placed 11th at the state meet.
On the men's side, freshman Ashton Garcia finished his season by placing eighth in the 1,500 meter at 4:00.38.
Sophomore Rodrigo Ornelas placed 12th in the 10,000 meter event at 34:32.42.
The men's team finished 12th at the event.