South Coast Conference Opener Results

Freshman Mia Belmonte won the 800 meters race to top the Pasadena City College women's track and field team performers at the 2026 season beginning South Coast Conference Opener meet held Friday at El Camino College.

Belmonte, who attended Hillside School And Learning Center in La Canada Flintridge, raced a 2:32.30 time in a race that had six runners overall from three colleges. Belmonte was joined by returning sophomore Ireja Lauderdale, and freshmen Destiny Rayburn (Blair High) and Kezia Gavlak (South Pasadena HS) as they Lancers scored second in the 4x400 relay at 4:17.35. 

Rayburn was second in the long jump (16 feet, 9.25 inches) while Lauderdale was fourth in the 150 meters (19.44).

Gavlak placed 11th in the 60 sprint (8.21) and took third in both the long jump (16-4.25) and triple jump (35-2). Returning sophomore Nadia Mims was 20th in the 150 meters sprint (22.06). 

Frosh Kirsten Cannon (Burroughs High) placed 16th in the 150 (21.26) and 20th in the 60 (8.71). Freshman Celeste Funes (Temple City) was 18th in the 150 (21.61) and 21st in the 60 (8.76). 

Returning sophomore Nadia Mims was 20th in the 150 meters sprint (22.06). Freshman Jennipher German (Applied Technology Center, PCC 2025 women's cross country team) scored 10th in the 1,500 (6:53.34) and 17th in the 3,000 (14:37.79) and 

The women's team had fun participating with the PCC men's team as Belmonte and Mims took part with Izaiah Reed and Anthony Pequeno to score second in the Mixed 4x400 relay (4:17.35). 

Expected to race soon is PCC Freshman of the Year for 2024-25 Deniya Fields, PCC's school record holder in the 400 who was SoCal champion and then second in the event at the 2025 3C2A State Championships. 

PCC, directed by head coach Innocent Egbunike in his ninth season in charge of the Lancers teams, next participates at this Friday's Battle of the Regions meet at Bakersfield College. The Lancers have 17 student-athletes overall expected to compete this season.