Men's Track & Field plans to load the bus with ten athletes heading to the 2023 CCCAA Regional Preliminary Meet this Friday in San Diego. Freshman Harrier Anthony Erikson leads the squad after earning Top 5 in two events at the 2023 Western State Conference Championships. The men finished 9th in the ten-team event, but that was decided more on depth than skill. Erikson, who also earned all-WSC honors and reached the CCCAA State Cross-Country Meet in the Fall, finished 4th at the conference meet in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:55.57, which ranks 6th all time at Cuesta, and 5th in the 5,000m (15:26.23). Pole Vaulter Kevin Sweeney also maintains State Meet hopes after finishing 3rd at the WSC Finals with vault of 13' 5.25". The Cougars also qualified a pair Steeplers, Two-time CCCAA Regional Qualifier Axel Reich and Nic Moore, as well as both their relay teams. Third-year Sprinter Connor Prichard is back to run the 100 and 200-meter races and will be part of both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Freshman Triple Jumper Dylan Ervin (pict), Sprinter Zach Holland and Hurdler Phoenix Popp join him for the 4x100. In the 4x400, Prichard and Holland add Decathlete Joseph Tugwell and Hurdler Gal Rivlin to their quartet. Tugwell was an injury scratch for the Regional Multi-event Meet, so he will compete as an individual in two of his best events- the 110-hurdles, where he will join Popp, and the High Jump. Popp will also run the 400-hurdles with Rivlin.
The top performers at this weekend's preliminary meet, shall return to San Diego next week to try and book a ticket for the 2023 CCCAA State Championships in Modesto on May 19-20.
CCCAA Southern California Regional Qualifiers
Anthony Erikson- 1,500m, 5,000m
Dylan Ervin- Triple Jump, 4x100
Zach Holland- 4x100, 4x 400
Nic Moore- Steeplechase
Phoenix Popp- 110-hurdles, 400-hurdles, 4x100
Connor Prichard- 100m, 200m, 4x100, 4x 400
Axel Reich- Steeplechase
Gal Rivlin- 400-hurdles, 4x 400
Kevin Sweeney- Pole Vault
Joseph Tugwell- High Jump, 110 Hurdles, 4x 400
