The College of the Canyons men’s cross country team is hoisting a state championship trophy for the first time since 1975, as the Cougars ran to a 79-86 victory over three-time defending state champs American River College at the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Cross Country State Championships held Saturday, Nov. 22, at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The COC women’s team also had a successful trip to Fresno, finishing in second place behind eventual champions Mt. SAC to end its season on a high note. COC Western State Conference (WSC) rival Glendale College would take third place.

With its win, the men’s cross country program achieves the cross country equivalent of a triple crown season — taking the WSC title, the SoCal Regional title and the State Championship.

Meanwhile, the women’s program took the WSC’s second spot before placing third in Southern California, but second in the state!

COC head coach Lindie Kane also becomes the first female coach to win a CCCAA men’s cross country state championship.

On Saturday, the men’s team was lead by sophomore Grant Stromberg’s time of 20:26, which was good enough for seventh place and JC All-American honors.

Sophomore Rodrigo Ornelas crossed the finish line of the four-mile course in 15th place with a time of 20:38 with freshman Ethan Walker a step behind in 16th place at 20:39.

Rounding out the Canyons team were freshman Jason Hillquist (20:45) in 19th place and sophomore Robert Pion (20:47) in 22nd.

On the women’s side sophomore Dominique Dowell earned JC All-American honors for the second consecutive year, finishing in 10th place with a time of 18:34.

Freshman Shalyn Mabritto was also named a JC All-American after finishing the 5K course in 11th place at 18:37. Freshman Amanda DeJesus (19:06), Lizeth Flores (19:14) and Alexandra Whitman (19:16) finished 22nd, 29th and 32nd, respectively.

Dowell and fellow COC sophomore runner Amanda Meredith were also both named 2014 Academic All-State Honorees.

A combined 450 runners from 56 community colleges competed in this year’s State Championship meet. Both the men’s and women’s fields consisted of 18 Southern California and 10 Northern California teams.

This is COC’s second men’s team cross country state championship in school history.