De Anza men, Hartnell women capture Coast Conference championships

In the women's race, it was a duel between Ericka Dorn of College of San Mateo and last year's Coast Conference runner-up Olivo. Olivo lead early through the uphill return and mile mark as both would crest the most challenging hill together with a slight lead over Jacklyn Velazquez of De Anza and Jania Orozco  of Hartnell College a few strides behind. When the runners reappeared just before the two mile mark, Olivo had gapped Dorn just enough before the final challenge on the course known as "Cardiac Hill". Orozco had moved up to third with Velazquez in two. Hartnell saw sophomore Jimena Hernandez-Tejeda join her teammates in the top seven overall entering the final 1000 meters. Olivo would hold her advantage at the finish line crossing in 19:08 for a five second victory over Dorn. Dorn, just a freshman, will be the early favorite for next year's individual title. Velazquez would run a strong final segment of the course to grab third place in 19:46 with Orozco would place fourth holding off a fast closing Deia Kerseg-Foreman of San Mateo getting fifth both timed 19:49. Hartnell College would place five in the top 14 with Lucero Benigno-Ramos in 13th and Cristal Baeza in 14th to win 29 to 35 over De Anza College. This was Hartnell College's second consecutive team title and third in the last four years. Olivo is also the fourth consecutive individual champion for the Panthers. Monterey Peninsula College was third with 69 points lead by Mary Hooper (10th) and Alana Gamino (11th). 

 

A large pack of nearly 18 runners crossed the mile mark lead by Hartnell College's Jesse Blanco. Blanco, the Norcal Preview Meet runner-up, would run nearly the entire 4.195 mile course unchallenged in his victory. He would separate himself from De Anza's top two Diego Ochoa-Mendez and James Etrella well before the two mile mark and finish 28 seconds ahead of the pair. Blanco crossed the finish line in a comfortable 21:32, a 5:07 average pace. Ochoa-Mendez and Estrella would finish second and third with the team battle yet to be determined as Hartnell College would counter with a fourth and fifth place showing by Giancarlo Mendo and Alvaro Ruelas. The Mountain Lions would prevail thanks in part to a nine second gap for their third through fifth runners who all placed ahead of Hartnell's fifth runner. Giovanni Lancelotti was sixth, Luis Folkers seventh, and Jack Park ninth to complete De Anza's team score fo 27 points. This was De Anza's second team title since 2019 when they also won a close affair with Hartnell College. Hartnell would manage a second place finish with 33 points adding Elijah Melchor in tenth, Galen Okamoto in thirteenth, and Aaron Eldredge in fourteenth. Monterey Peninsula College was third with 80 points with Caleb Bouwens in eighth and Andrew Moberg eleventh.