Canyons Track & Field Wins Seven Events at Pirate Invitational

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director   

VENTURA — College of the Canyons turned in another productive outing at the annual Pirate Invitational hosted by Ventura College on Friday, with the Cougars combining to win seven events with 30 top-five finishes.

COC sophomore Antonio Moore was the top performer for the men's team after claiming a win in the 110h (15.38) and finishing runner-up in the 200m (22.28). Moore also ran in the third position alongside Josh Smith, Thurlee Bowers and Elijah Reid in winning the 4x100 relay (42.54).

Bowers also had a good individual showing with the freshman winning the 100m at a time of 10.92. He also leaped a height of 1.85m in the high jump event to finish runner-up.

Freshman Alejandro Cueto won the 3K steeplechase event (10:26.40) and was third in the 800m (2:03.14). Cueto later ran the third leg alongside Smith, Matthew Grider and Moore for a time of 3:30.50 in the 4x400, good for second place. 

In all, the Cougars' men's team had 18 student-athletes post top-five finishes.

Sophomore Monique Fulling, the current COC women's student-athlete of the week, had another fantastic performance for the Cougars. Fulling's performance included wins in both the 100m (12.76) and 400h (1:05.61). 

Hazel Rhodes put her mark on the meet with a win in the 200m (25.59) and was also runner-up behind Fulling in the 100m (12.88).

In the field events, Gabriella Nickels placed second in the javelin (26.59m) and fourth in the hammer throw (29.06m).

Canyons posted 12 top-five finishes on the day.

Full results from the Pirate Invitational are available here.

Canyons will close out the month by competing at the Cuyamaca College Invitational on Feb. 28, in San Diego.

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 X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.