By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

CERRITOS — College of the Canyons cross country will continue to run after having three Cougars qualify to compete at the state championship meet later this month based on their performance at Friday’s California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Championships.

Sophomores Amanda Finn (19:52), Celeste Gonzalez (20:16.2) and Samantha Bell (20:22.4) will take part in COC’s annual trip to Fresno, site of the state championship meet, after finishing 50th, 61st and 64th, respectively, in the field of 177 runners from across the region who gathered at Don Knabe Community Regional Park. Takaira Beard (21:46/112th),

Graciela Torres (23:02.9/136th) and Abigail Ornelas (26:21.6/164th) also ran for the Cougars.

COC’s women’s squad placed 15th in the team standings and will narrowly miss a chance to compete as a team in Fresno.

L.A. Harbor College (53) won the women’s 5K event, followed by Mt. San Antonio College (110) and Glendale College (122) in the top three spots.

The Cougars’ men’s team placed 26th at the SoCal Championships. Canyons had received an at-large bid to compete at the regional meet earlier in the week.

Mt. SAC (59) won the men’s race followed by El Camino College (97) and San Diego Mesa College (109).

COC freshman Jacob Acosta (21:27.7/88th) was the top finisher on the men’s team, followed by Sebastian Holding (21:36.2/96th) in the field of 193 runners.

Brannon Barber (21:39.4/101st), Hunter Covarrubias (22:25.2/136th), Edgar Aguilar-Lara (23:03.3/160th) and Donmiguel White-Carrington (23:07.3/161st) rounded out the men’s team.

The 2018 CCCAA Cross Country State Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 17 at Woodward Park in Fresno. The women’s race will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the men’s competition at 11 a.m.

A combined total of 21 men’s teams and 21 women’s teams will compete at the CCCAA State Championship meet. The field will consist of 14 teams from the South region and seven teams from the North region.

A maximum combined total of 30 men’s and 30 women’s individual qualifiers will advance to the CCCAA State championship meet. The field may consist of up to 20 individuals from the South region and 10 individuals from the North region. Individual qualifiers may only advance into the State Championship if they finish within the top 50 percent of all finishers at their Regional Championship.

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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.