Cuesta Men's Cross Country finished in 23^rd place at the 2023 CCCAA State Championship after also taking 6^th place at the 11-team Western State Conference Finals.  The trip to the CCCAA State Championship got the Cougars back to the penultimate meet, after a one-year absence, for 14^th time over the past 16 years.  First-year Coach Robert Neely took over the program in August and was lucky to have four Regional Qualifiers back from 2022, including individual State Qualifier Anthony Erikson.  

Harrier Anthony Erikson's talent and experience proved invaluable this Fall.  He set the tone for the season by winning each of his first four starts, before a nagging injury slowed him going into the championship events.  He finished 3^rd at the Western State Conference Finals, 9^th at the Southern California Regionals and capped the season with 13^th at the 2023 CCCAA State Meet He earned a spot on 2023 All State First Team, while his time of 20:44.4 landed him the 5^th fastest State Meet time by a Cuesta Harrier (on record).  After running without a team at the 2022 State meet, Erikson's performance was well supported by his teammates.  Sophomores Axel Reich (85^th) and Jorge Merced (158^th) joined Freshmen Gabriel Irwin (167^th) and Kyle Shatwell (169^th) to complete Cuesta's five-man scoring team, while Sophomore Deegan Miller (177^th) completed the Cougars' Pack in the 181-man event.  Reich and Merced also added all-Western State Conference Honors by earned Second Team and Honorable mention accolades after the WSC Finals.  

2023 Men's Cross-Country Honors

Anthony Erikson- All-State First Team, All-Region First Team, All-Conference First Team

Axel Reich- All-Conference Second Team (State & Regional Qualifier)

Jorge Merced- All-Conference Honorable Mention (State & Regional Qualifier)

State Champs - Top 20 Times – Since 1996 

1. Sean McDermott              20:06              2016               1^st  
2. Connor Fisher                  20:16              2014               3^rd
3. Gordon Sturgess              20:28              2012               8^th
4. Sean McDermott              20:38              2015               5^th
5. Anthony Erikson           20:44.4          2023               13^th     
6. Paul Denlinger                 20:48              2011               22^nd
7. Trevor Stangle                 20:53              2016               14^th
8. Sergio Reyes*                  21:02              1999               2^nd
9. Misael Corral                   21:02              2008               26^th
10. Roberto Bazan                 21:03              2014               36^th
11. Alex Hascall                     21:03              2014               37^th
12. Dustin Cossio                   21:04              2006               30^th
13. Chris Stehula                   21:08              2004               23^rd
14. Oscar Pena                       21:10              2010               37^th
15. Taylor Castanon              21:13              2009               46^th
16. Byron Fiscus                    21:15              2003               28^th
17. Anthony Erikson           21:18.9          2022               44^th
18. Paul Denlinger                 21:20              2009               57^th
19. Tyler Gates                       21:21              2011               58^th
20. Travis Hallanan               21:21              2010               45^th