Men's and Women's Cross Country Are Conference Champions

For the third time in a row, the COS men and women's cross country teams have become the Central Valley Conference Champions. The men's team edged out Fresno City (27-32) and the women's team also defeated Fresno City (15-59) at Woodward Park last Thursday afternoon.

The women's team started the day impressively, getting 6 women across the finish line before any other team, securing their conference title in just over 20 minutes. Freshmen Jojo Zorn of Monache who has lead the Giants all season, became COS's first individual winner of the day, finishing the 5k course in 19:10, beating her previous Woodward course time from the Fresno Invitational by 14 seconds. Following Zorn was freshmen Ariana Jasso of Redwood who had a break through race, getting a personal best time this season by 11 seconds, 20:13 to capture 2nd place. Freshmen Sarah Reid of Exeter came in 3rd with a time of 20:26, besting her previous course time by over an outstanding 2 minutes. Coming in 4th for the Giants was freshmen Kelsay McClendon of El Diamante with a time of 20:33, like Reid, she improved her course time by over 2 minutes. Sophomore Addie Blair of Golden West finished 5th for the Giants, 20:35. Coming in 6th was freshmen Monica Lopez of Kingsburg who ran a 20:51. Sophomore Marlene Alcantar of Monache came in 10th, 21:47.

On the men's side freshmen Adam Gonzalez of Redwood captured the second individual conference title of the day crossing the line just three seconds ahead of second place in 21:16, 41 seconds faster than his previous course time at the Fresno Invitational. The men's team had a sweep of their own, having 7 men finish together to take 6th place through 12th place. Coming in 6th, 22:28 for the Giants was freshmen Rogelio Luviano of Tulare Union. 7th place was freshmen Tyler Dalton of Mt. Whitney, who ran 25 seconds faster than his previous course time, coming across the line in 22:34. 8th place was freshmen Isaac Leal of Sanger, who bested his course time by 1:22 seconds. Freshmen Arturo Ochoa of Exeter was 9th, 22:53 and showed the strongest improvement of the day for the men by running almost 2 minutes faster than his previous Woodward time. 10th place was freshmen Abran Ayon of McFarland with a 23 second personal course record of 22:59. Freshmen Gary Austin of Corcoran came in 11th, 23:00 for the Giants. Rounding out the sweep was freshmen Matt Villareal of Sanger for 12th in 23:15 with a 1:21 second personal course record. Also competing for the Giants were Freshmen Riley Hanks (21st, 24:46) of Sanger and Sophomore Roberto Jaramillo of Corcoran (23rd, 26:02).

The season continues for both COS teams on Friday, November 6th at the NorCal Championships in Salinas, California at Toro Park where they will try to qualify for the State Championships.