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College of the Canyons

Kaiya Cortinas and JT Saenz Named COC Student-Athletes of the Week

Promotional graphic featuring head shot photos of track & field athlete Kaiya Cortinas and track & field athlete JT Saenz with the College of the Canyons athletics logo displayed in the background. 
March 20, 2024

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons student-athletes Kaiya Cortinas (women's track & field) and JT Saenz (men's track & field) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's & Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running March 11-16. Cortinas and Saenz are the 12th set of honorees for the winter/spring 2024 session.

Kaiya Cortinas / Women's Track & Field

Cortinas turned in the top performance for the women's track & field team during its run at the University of Redlands Invitational on March 15, against a field of mostly four-year student-athletes.

The freshman out of Golden Valley High School recorded a pair of top-six finishes and also ran on the 4x400 relay team which also finished fourth. COC was one of four community colleges competing at the event.

Cortinas was clocked at 2:34.64 to finish sixth in the 800m. Later it was Cortinas running to fourth place in the 1500m (5:14.84). Both of those times represented season bests. In the 4x400 relay Katelyn Catu, Cortinas, Emily Fairbanks and Zeniah Ellsworth teamed for a time of 4:28.50 to take fourth in the field of five. 

JT Saenz / Men's Track & Field

Saenz made his mark at the University of Redlands Invitational on March 15 by bringing home a pair of top-five finishes in the field events.

The freshman, who attended Murrieta Valley High School, placed fourth in triple jump with a leap of 13.10m/42' 11.75" for his top result of the day.

Later, it was Saenz taking fifth in the long jump 6.58m/21' 7.25". Both results came against a field of mostly four-year student-athletes. Saenz' marks were tops against community college athletes in both events.

Saenz also ran in the 4x100 relay working with teammates Da'Marrie Smith, Lyndon Ravare and Andre Bray for a seventh-place time of 43.75, which also ranked second among two-year programs.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.