College of the Sequoias Delivers Top Performances at West Coast Relays

April 1, 2025

FRESNO, Calif. – College of the Sequoias track and field athletes turned in some of their best performances of the season on March 29 at the West Coast Relays, hosted by Fresno State at Warmerdam Field. The Giants showed depth in sprints, field events, and distance races, with multiple athletes earning top-10 finishes and establishing new marks among California's best in the community college ranks.

Men's Highlights

Tevin Howerton (Las Vegas) continued to show why he is one of the state's top sprinters. He placed third in the 100 meters, clocking 10.57, which ranks No. 5 in California this season. He also ran 21.48 in the 200 meters, finishing third.

Chase Dexter (Las Vegas) added a strong mark in the 100 meters, placing seventh overall in 10.76, and fifth in the 200 meters in 21.72.

In the field events, Jesus Herrera (Tulare Western HS) had a big day, taking sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 13.26m (43-06) and 13th in the long jump at 6.57m (21-06.75).

The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Mora, Dexter, Espinosa, and Howerton placed first in 41.61, the No. 8 time in California this season.

Women's Highlights

Ashlyn Reed (Tulare Western HS) was one of the standout performers for the COS women. She finished fifth in the triple jump, recording a season-best 11.09m (36-4.5). Reed also placed 12th in the long jump with a mark of 5.31m (17-05.25), which is her personal best and currently ranks No. 8 in the state.

Makayla Jones (Corcoran HS) placed ninth in the 400 meters with a time of 56.61, which is the fastest mark in California Community Colleges this season, giving her the No. 1 state ranking. She also anchored the women's 4x100-meter relay squad of Reed, Jones, Liset Castanon, and Ejaiya Burton (Tulare Western HS), which finished eighth in 49.40.

Ava King and Emily Pallesi finished 11th and 13th, respectively, in the high jump with clearances of 1.50m (4-11) and 1.45m (4-09), both marking personal bests.

Micaela Fraley earned a top-10 finish and a personal best in the pole vault, clearing 2.72m (8-11).

Dana Ruiz (Tulare Union HS) posted a personal-best in the 800 meters with a time of 2:26.94. She also recorded a season best in the javelin with a mark of 17.76m (58-3.25), while Katalina Castillo (Redwood HS) placed in the top 15 of the same event with a throw of 26.73m (87-8.25).

In the throws, Kassidy Pace (Redwood HS) placed 11th in the shot put (9.13m/29-11.5) and 17th in the discus (29.46m/96-7.75). Taylor McElree added a pair of personal bests, finishing in the top 15 of the discus with a throw of 30.68m (100-7.75) and also hitting a new mark in the hammer throw at 33.13m (108-8.25).

Looking Ahead on the Track

The Giants will return to action this week with student-athletes competing at multiple meets across Northern California. From April 3–5, distance athletes will race at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, hosted by San Francisco State University, while others will head to the Brutus Hamilton Invitational at the University of California, Berkeley on April 4–5. Both meets present key opportunities for the Giants to improve marks and strengthen their positioning for postseason qualification.

Team Results – Top 15 Finishes

Women

200 Meters

6. Makayla Jones – 24.87

400 Meters

9. Makayla Jones – 56.61 (No. 1 in CA)

4x100 Relay

8. Ashlyn Reed, Makayla Jones, Liset Castanon, Ejaiya Burton – 49.40

5000 Meters

12. Arianna Ramirez-Romero - 19:37.25

3k Steeplechase

7. Jizelle Loza – 13:41.24