Pirate men take second place overall at OEC Finals
RIVERSIDE -- The Orange Coast College track and field team earned a solid second-place team finish at the 2024 Orange Empire Conference Track and Field Championships, hosted by Riverside City College, on Friday.
Led by conference champion high jumper Caeden Connell, the Pirates finished with a team score of 164, trailing only host Riverside (452). Saddleback finished third with 99 points, followed by Golden West (38), Fullerton (36) and Santa Ana (3).
Connell earned the top spot in the OEC by successfully clearing 6-feet, 6 3/4 inches. RCC's Bryson Williamson also cleared the same mark, but Connell accomplished the feat in fewer attempts, giving him the top spot.
The Pirates earned several second-place marks throughout the meet. Brandan Clark earned a pair of runner-up performances, taking second in the 400 meters (49.12) as well as the javelin throw (174-5).
Distance specialist, Jimmy Dominguez took home three medals from the OEC Championships, earning two silver medals in the 5,000 (15:12.89) and 10,000 (32:55.55), while earning the bronze in the 1,500 (4:07.36).
It was a 2-3 finish for the Pirates in the 10k, with OCC teammate Moises Bailon earning a third-place finish with a time of 33:29.46).
OCC decathlete Ivan Chang finished second overall with 5,222 points, taking the top spot in both the 400 (51.18) and 1,500 (4:45.76).
Coast's 4x400 relay squad earned the silver medal with a time of 3:22.71, while the 4x100 squad finished third with a time of 42.86.
Up next for these Pirates and several more will be the 2024 Southern California Regionals, which take place at Cerritos College, beginning on Friday.
