Women's Track & Field returned to the top of the Western State Conference with the program's first conference title since the pandemic-shortened season of 2021. Unlike that season, when competition was strictly limited to the conferences, the Cougars are set to continue their charge through regional and state competitions. This year's title is the program's 5th overall, including 1977, 1985 and 1988.
Cuesta Thrower Kiera Taylor led the team with a pair of titles at the Cougars were dominated the implements. Taylor, who began her freshman season as an all-Conference performer for volleyball, before leading basketball to the playoffs, has now helped lift track & field to conference title. Taylor led the way with titles in the Shot Put (35-4) and Discus (130-10), while teammate Kristy Huynh, claimed the Javelin (108-5). Returning all-WSC Thrower Harper Clark almost made it a clean Cuesta sweep in the throws but had to settle for Silver (121-1) in the Hammer. Clark also finished 2nd behind Huynh in the Javelin. The talented group also received all-Conference throwing performances from Jaide Tappan in both the Shot Put (5th) and Discus (2nd), as well as Isabella Saenz the Hammer (4th)
On the Track, Sprinting Star Gwyndolyn Katics (pict) won the 200-meters (:25.34) and was the Runner-up in the 400-meters with a school-record time of :56.17. Katics, who also ranks 4th all time in the 100 and 3rd in the 200-meters at Cuesta, eclipsed Heather Owens' 1986 Cuesta standard of :56.43 and is the new record holder in the 400-meters. Teammate Kiana Marie Lambert finished 7th in the 100-meters and 5th in the 200-meters. However, her times of :12.89 in the 100-meters and :25.70, in a very fast 200-meters competition, also moved her into 9th and 8th, respectively, on the Cougars' all-time event lists. Katics and Lambert also joined Huynh and Lexington Brewer to take 5th in the 4x100 relay, while the duo later combined with Quinn Dubrul and Sydney Culp for another 5th in the 4x400 Relay.
In the Jumps, Kiana Marie Lambert. Mia Martin and Kristy Huynh handled the long and tall. Lambert moved into 6th place all time at Cuesta with a title winning leap of 17-6.75 in the Long Jump, while Martin, who also earned a Bronze in the 100 Hurdles, soared 5'3" to win the WSC title and claim 7th on the Cuesta Top 10. Huynh and Lambert also took the Silver (34-10.5) and Bronze (34-3.5) in the Triple Jump, respectively.
The Cougars return to action this weekend as their month-long journey to the 2025 CCCAA State Championship (May 16-17) continues with the CCCAA Southern Regional Preliminary Meet this Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.
Gwyndolyn Katics (200m)- Champion
Mia Martin (High Jump)- Champion
Kiana Marie Lambert (Long Jump)- Champion
Kiera Taylor (Shot Put)- Champion
Kiera Taylor (Discus)- Champion
Kristy Huynh (Javelin)- Champion
Gwyndolyn Katics (400m)- 2nd Place
Kristy Huynh (Triple Jump)- 2nd Place
Jaide Tappan (Discus)- 2nd Place
Harper Clark (Hammer)- 2nd Place
Harper Clark (Javelin)- 2nd Place
Mia Martin (100 Hurdles)- 3rd Place
Kiana Marie Lambert (Triple Jump)- 3rd Place
Isabella Saenz (Hammer)- 4th Place
Samantha Duran (100 Hurdles)- 5th Place
Jaide Tappan (Shot Put)- 5th Place
Brewer/Katics/Huynh/Lambert (4x100 Relay)- 5th Place
Lambert/Duburl/Culp/Katics (4x400 Relay)- 5th Place
