Courtesy COC Sports Information

College of the Canyons sophomore Ethan Walker returned from home from Fresno as a California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Champion for the second time in as many years.

On Saturday, Walker posted a time of 20:09.8 on the four-mile course at Woodpark Park, in Fresno to win the 2015 Men’s Cross Country Individual State Championship.

His performance helped pace a Cougar team that finished in third place at the statewide meet among a field of 28 schools.

The Cougars totaled 123 points to trail second place Mt. SAC (116) and first place American River College (67). ARC has now won the state championship in four of the last five years.

In 2014, the COC men’s team clinched its own CCCAA Men’s Cross Country State Championship, with Walker also running as a key member of that team.

Earlier this year Walker also won an individual CCCAA Track & Field State Championship in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Walker has also been named a 2015 JC All-American.

Walker’s individual cross county title is just the second such accomplishment in school history. In 1971 COC student-athlete Mike Martinez accomplished that same feat.

COC freshman Nick Liebmann also turned in a strong performance in Fresno, finshing with a time of 20:52.4 to take 15th place and JC All-American honors.

Sophomore Jason Hillquist posted COC’s third fastest time at 21:15 to finish in 29th among the field of 208 runners.

On the women’s side Canyons freshman Jessica Ruiz finished in 10th place with a time of 18:34.7 to lead the Cougars into third place. Ruiz was also named a 2015 JC All-American

COC finished the event with 121 points, placing behind Hartnell College (117) and conference rival Glendale College (37), the 2015 State Champions.

Sophomore Alexandra Whitman crossed the finish line at 19:07.1 to take 18th, while Amanda De Jesus placed 28th with a time of 19:21.3.