Giants men place third at Coyote Invitational vs. field of four-year universities

Competing against a field of predominantly four-year universities, COS' men's team finished third at the Coyote Invitational in San Bernardino on Sept. 21.

The Giants scored 111 points, finishing behind NCAA Division III Claremont-Mudd-Sscripts (16) and NCAA D-II Concordia (90).

Ismael Ramirez (Redwood) was the Giants' top individual, finishing fifth during the 134-runner, 8K race in 24:28.68.

Oscar Perez (Dinuba) had COS' second-best finish, crossing the line in 15th place in 25:00.76.

The rest of the Giants' top five included: Evan Loftin (El Diamante), who was 30th in 25:32.81; Cristobal Vasquez (Lindsay), who was 40th in 25:45.44; and Christian Gonzalez (Corcoran), who was 50th in 26:00.51.

COS also had Zackary Woods (Frontier) place 53rd in 26:05.67, Victor Cisneros (Lindsay) finish 62nd in 26:19.49, Luciano Linares (Exeter) place 63rd in 266:22.79, Angel Barajas (Mt. Whitney) place 84th in 27:06.19, Dominic Izquierdo (Hanford) place 97th in 27:57.78, and Jacob Garcia (Farmersville) place 105th in 28:27.75. 

This was the first time this season the Giants competed against four-year universities while running a race that was a mile longer than their opening meet at the Fresno Invitational on Sept. 7.

State No. 7-ranked COS placed better than the two other community college teams in the field, No. 6 San Bernardino Valley (seventh with 157 points) and No. 8 Glendale (sixth with 139 points).

On the women's side, Courtney Santos (Hanford West) was the Giants' only competitor, finishing 107th in a season-best 21:30.63.

COS is idle this weekend before returning to action Oct. 4 at the Nor-Cal Preview meet in Salinas.