VC sophomore Stina Johansson completed a stellar season finishing third at the CCCAA State Cross Country Championships Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno. Her efforts led the VC women to a 14th place finish overall. Meanwhile, the Pirate men came in 12th place as a team, behind a 40th place finish by Isaiah Slagboom.
Johansson led for most of the race, but could not hold off competitors from Canyons and San Diego mesa in the end. She covered the 5k course in 18:13, just 17 and seven seconds behind first and second, respectively. Her run was the fourth fastest in school history in the state championships and the fastest since 1987.
The VC men came in 12th place overall with 354 points. San Diego Mesa claimed the state title with 50 points, followed by Mt. San Antonio (66), Hartnell (91) and Riverside (93). The Pirates came in 21 points out of the Top-10.
Slagboom took a hard spill early in the second mile but fought back to hold on to 40th place overall scoring 36 points. He ran the 4-mile course in 21:08, good for 14th best in school history at the championships. Joshua Weinerth (21:25, 48 points) finished in 55th with the 21st best time in school history. Other VC runners included Alex Canales 71st (21:39, 62 points), Sahit Jimenez 118th (22:35, 101 points), Ramiro Mateos 126th (22:43, 107 points) all closed out their races extremely hard rounding out the scoring group. Matthew Siroky (151st, 23:36), Noah Castro (154th, 23:43) were not far behind finishing off with strong performances. A total of 166 competitors ran the race.
12th best community college cross country team in California.Sahit Jimenez (Santa Paula),Noah Castro (Channel Islands),Mathew Siroky (Newbury Park),Xavier Terminello (Ventura),Ramiro Mateos (Oxnard),Isaiah Slagboom (Channel Islands),Joshua Weinerth(Rio Mesa), Alex Canales(Fresno) pic.twitter.com/lwx2sw2Rhn
— VC Track & Field / Cross Country (@VCTFXC) November 20, 2021
The Pirate women, a team that was incomplete through half the season, came together and had a great performance at the state meet finishing 14th overall. Mt. San Antonio claimed the women's crown with 63 points and Hartnell (79) and Riverside (130) followed. VC scored 348 total points and were 57 points away from the Top-10.
Behind Johansson, Brenda Garcia (59th, 20:30, 46 points) ran her best race of the season. Other VC runners included Alexandra Sanchez (90th, 21:14, 70 points), Alexa Hernandez (135th, 24:35, 111 points), Talia Steve (143rd, 25:31, 119 points) and Leslie Cervantes (147th, 26:30). A total of 154 runner competed for the state championship.
This amazing group of ladies came together to finish as the 14th best community college cross country team in California. Leslie Cervantes (Oxnard), Alexandra Sanchez (Rio Mesa), Stina Johansson (Sweden), Brenda Garcia (Buena), Alexa Hernandez (Oxnard), Talia Steve (El Camino) pic.twitter.com/a7iyV71b4c
— VC Track & Field / Cross Country (@VCTFXC) November 20, 2021
With the completion of the season, the coaches and student athletes will take some time off before preparing for spring track practice and looking forward to the 2022 season next fall.