Men's Cross Country returned to the CCCAA State Championships as a team after a one-year absence, while Star Harrier Anthony Erikson (pict) made his second straight appearance.  Erikson led the Cougars' seven-man pack to 23rd place as a team, while he challenged for an individual title before landing in 13th place.  Erikson's time of 20:44.4 marked the fastest State Meet time posted by a Cuesta Harrier since 2017 Cuesta College Athlete of the Year Sean McDermott won the State Title with a time of 20:06.  Erikson's time is also the 5th fastest State Meet time for a Cuesta runner on record (since 1996), while his freshman year time (21:18.9) from last year remains in the Cougars' Top 20 in 17th place.  Sophomore Axel Reich, who was named all-WSC Second Team, was the next Cougar to finish the race.  He landed in 85th place (22:06.5), while fellow all-WSC selection Jorge Merced guided the last four Cuesta Harriers across the finish line.  Merced and Freshmen Gabriel Irwin and Kyle Shatwell completed the Cougars' scoring team (Top 5).  Merced finished 158th (23:40.5), while Irwin and Shatwell pushed themselves across the line in 167th (24:10.2) and 169th (24:24.3), respectively.   Sophomore Deegan Miller rounded out team as the 177th (26:06.9) finisher.

2023 Cuesta Men's Cross Country State Team

2023    Anthony Erikson         13^th                  20:44.4            

2023    Axel Reich                  85^th                  22:06.5

2023    Jorge Merced              158^th                23:40.5

2023    Gabriel Irwin              167^th                24:10.2

2023    Kyle Shatwell             169^th                24:24.3

2023    Deegan Miller             177^th                26:06.9