Stina Johansson and Charlotte Allison each won gold medals at the CCCAA State Track and Field Championships Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College earning first team All-American honors in leading the VC women's team to a tie for ninth place overall. Citllali Cortez also earned a first-team All-American honors as the Pirate women closed out Ventura's 2021-22 athletic calendar.
Johansson (Sweden) completed her stellar career for the orange and black claiming first in the 3000m steeplechase by 45 seconds. She broke her own school record by nine seconds, breaking the tape in under 11 minutes at 10:58.75. Her time ranks No. 5 all-time in CCCAA State Championships history and is the fastest time this year nationally among community colleges.
Stina Johansson breaks 11 minutes to win the California Community College State Championship in the 3k steeplechase with the nation's leading time! @VCAthletics @vcscolleges @TomekCzerwinsk1 pic.twitter.com/HdwH8lh7pU
— VC Track & Field / Cross Country (@VCTFXC) May 21, 2022
Allison (La Reina) started the day by winning the high jump, clearing 5'5" to win gold. Her winning height is a season's-best and tied for the No. 12-ranked mark nationally among community colleges. She then immediately went to the long jump finals where three outstanding jumps were nullified by small fouls on the board.
Charlotte Allison clears 5'5 to win the 2022 California Community College State Championship! @VCAthletics @vcscolleges @TomekCzerwinsk1 pic.twitter.com/xnqEQ6MGx1
— VC Track & Field / Cross Country (@VCTFXC) May 21, 2022
Meanwhile, Cortez (Rio Mesa) finished just out of the medals in the 400m hurdles by .05 seconds, but her solid race and fourth-place finish earned her All-American accolades.
Aubrianna Smith (Foothill Tech) ran the second-fastest time of her career in the 100m to finish eighth while Cassandra O'Reilly (Rio Mesa) qualified for the shot put final finishing ninth.
VC's 4x100m relay team of Smith, O'Reilly, Cortez and Nicole Rivera Cortez (Channel Islands) finished eighth overall despite missing key runner Ariana Vera (Rio Mesa), who was forced out of the championships due to an injury at the regional finals.
The Pirates totaled 27 points overall to finish in a tie for ninth place with College of the Redwoods. Host Mt. San Antonio claimed the team title with 115.5 points followed distantly by Riverside (69) and Saddleback (67). VC's team finish is the best in recent history dating back to 1998.
Pirate Track and Field winners at the CCCAA State Championships on Saturday May 21 (from left), Stina Johansson, state champion 3000m steeplechase; Charlotte Allison, state champion high jump; and Citllali Cortez, foruth place 400m hurdles.
Pirate Track and Field winners at the CCCAA State Championships on Saturday May 21 (from left), Aubrianna Smith, eighth place 100m; 4x100m relay, eight place.