3C2A Cross Country Championships twice as nice for San Diego Mesa; Clovis' Walker and Cuesta's Greenelsh individual winners

Rhiannon Walker (Clovis) and Weston Greenelsh (Cuesta) were the individual winners on Saturday at the 3C2A Cross Country Championships. (Photo by Mark Ingraham)

November 23, 2024

Official Results: Women l Men
Photos: Awards

FRESNO - Call it an In ‘N Out Burger season for the San Diego Mesa women’s and men’s cross country teams and head coach Sean Ricketts. They won a double-double!

Despite a rainy day at the California Community College Athletic Association championships at Woodward Park in Fresno, the Olympians ran to victories worthy of the Acropolis.

In the 47th women’s race, Mesa outpointed local favorite Clovis Community College 85-125. Defending champ Mt. San Antonio College was a close third at 130.

Drawing the most cheers was Clovis ace Rhiannon Walker, the NorCal champ who timed 18:22.9 to complete an undefeated season. She was followed by SoCal champ Dana Ibarra Canales of Saddleback at 18:33.5. Orange Coast’s Liberty Miller was third at 18:37.1

At the one-mile mark,Walker was five strides ahead of Canales. She had increased her lead by about 20 yards on the downhill return loop. Walker was asked when she felt confident of victory. “Not until I crossed the finish line,” she replied. With the 2024 individual title and a sixth-place finish in 2023, Walker is a two-time 3C2A All-American. She will continue her education and running career at Fresno State.

San Diego Mesa women and men were team champions on Saturday!

"This was my goal and I came out and executed it. It just means so much," Walker said of her win.

The Mesa women did not have a runner in the top 10, but the Olympians were depth-bunched from 10 to 25 in scoring order. They were: Natalie Allen, 19:10.6; Joelle Tonne, 19:18.6; Kate Touchet, 19:45.6; Suhey Arce, 19:54.3; and Haidyn McKenzie, 20:06.8. This was Mesa’s second state championship and first since 1994. They were runners-up the past two seasons.

Afterwards, in the 60th 3C2A men's race, Mesa parlayed their SoCal championship to a state championship with a 47-98 win over Mt. San Antonio. San Bernardino Valley was third at 144. SoCal champ Ian Rosen’s 20:57.1 was fourth, but 2nd in scoring order. Next was Alex Leroy (7) at 21:07.1 followed by Ronald Way’s (9), 21:09.5; Luciano Roberts (14), 21:18.9 and Josh Edwards (15), 21.26.1.

Prior to this season, San Diego Mesa had won five state men's titles, including the first in 1964. Coach Ricketts has guided the Olympians to previous titles in 2019 and 2021 and like the SD Mesa women, his men’s teams were runners-up the past two seasons.

"They followed the process and executed it rain or shine or hard pack," said San Diego Mesa head coach Sean Ricketts on both of the teams' wins. "It was exciting to watch them."

If there was a surprise in the 60th 3C2A men’s race, it was individual winner Weston Greenelsh, a freshman from Cuesta. The tall Cougar timed 20:38.1 to John Gutierrez’s, 20:47.4. Gutierrez, from Allan Hancock was also second in the SoCals and is also a freshman. Is this a prelude to a Central California coast-budding rivalry in 2025? It seems these two young men have already hit their marks.

"One of my goals was to stay with John Gutierrez," said Greenelsh. "Later on in the race, I realized I could stay with him, hold on and take the state title."

Despite a rainy day in Fresno, it was a well-attended event and the real fans of distance running were rewarded with a classy, entertaining event provided by meet director CJ Albertson, his staff, and especially a group of highly talented runners.

(Woody Wilk, CCCSIA)