Community college men’s and women’s cross country: OCC women settle

for share of regional crown

The Orange Coast College women’s cross country team was crowned

co-champion of the Southern California Championships Saturday at Antelope

Valley College in Lancaster. But that’s only because of the meet’s rules,

OCC Coach John Goldman said.

The Pirates placed five girls in the top 20 and finished in a

first-place tie with 51 points with Mt. San Antonio. Goldman said the

rules specify, there is no tie-breaker in regional meets because they

serve as qualifiers for the state meet. OCC’s sixth runner was ahead of

Mt. SAC’s fourth.

“There should be a definitive champion,” Goldman said. “I never agreed

with that rule. But those are the rules.”

Michelle Icban led the Pirates with her second-place finish, five

seconds behind Mt. SAC’s champion Alejandra Contreras (19:50).

OCC’s Katie Mais came in 10th (20:32), while Lindsay Allen, (13th in

20:49), Suzette Dinoso (16th in 21:01) and Heather Huggins (19th in

21:18) finished in the top 20.

On the men’s side, the Pirates took fourth with 136 points, as San

Diego won the meet with 72 points among the 32 schools.

OCC sophomore Ryan Bousquet (21:49) went stride-for-stride with Mesa

champion Sean Ricketes and finished second, just three seconds back on

the four-mile course.

Both teams will prepare for the state championships Nov. 17 at

Woodward Park in Fresno.