50 Years Later, Cross Country Summer Series Still Not Over the Hill

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

The 2025 College of the Canyons Cross Country Summer Series will officially conclude Thursday, Aug. 14, brining to a close the 50th anniversary of one of the Santa Clarita Valley running community's most beloved summer traditions.

The event, which originally launched in 1974, has enjoyed a long and storied history on the college's Valencia campus, thanks to the efforts of various coaches and dedicated individuals, event sponsors and organizers, and perhaps most importantly, the athletes and community members that have kept coming back year after year to run.

"The Summer Series is a long-standing community tradition that welcomes everyone and all abilities, from local athletes to recreational runners to elite runners to families and individuals," said COC cross country and track & field head coach Lindie Kane. "It's also become the kick-off to the cross country season."

Aside from a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the last 50 summers the Thursday after the Fourth of July has marked the beginning of the annual Summer Series.

During that span the event has played host to countless competitors, among them collegiate and high school cross country and track athletes, both professional and amateur runners, local and regional running groups, and a wide range of inspired recreational runners and community members looking for a fun place to run and a new way to challenge themselves.

Today, runners gather on six consecutive Thursdays to complete a three-mile course beginning at Mike Gillespie Field and winding through the Valencia campus and surrounding hillsides, before concluding at Cougar Stadium.

The event attracts mostly amateur participants of all ages and experiences across more than a dozen age groups, with the field often including up to several hundred runners each week. A children's race around the stadium track was added in 2004 as part of each Thursday evening's family-friendly festivities. 

But the Summer Series wasn't always the community 'fun run' that it is now. 

Once upon a time, the six-race series served as a key summer training circuit and prestigious off-season cross country meet that serious runners from across Southern California flocked to, and strived to win, each week.

Press clipping throughout those early years showcase the high level of competition among runners from throughout the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and Antelope Valley. 

Events routinely attracted fields of more than 300 runners and garnered regular media attention, with event champions often carrying the moniker of "Summer Series Champion" with them as an unofficial title and claim to fame during the traditional cross country season each fall.

That was part of the goal when longtime COC cross country and track & field head coach Monty Cartwright, and assistant coach Scott King originally started the series in the mid-1970s in collaboration with the local high school cross country programs and amateur running groups.

After Cartwright and King moved on from the college the event continued to thrive, even in the face of adversity.

When the college temporarily eliminated its cross country program in 1981 due to budget constraints, public concerns immediately arose as to whether the Summer Series would continue. That's when the Santa Clarita Runners group got involved with sponsorship of the event, a partnership that continues even in 2025.

Later, the series operated under the guidance of Gene Blankenship, then head coach of the Hart High School cross country program, who was involved with organizing the annual event up until 1992.

In the late 1980s COC head coach Fred Delavega also became involved with the annual tradition, then eventually passed the baton to Kane, who has headed the series since her arrival in 1995.

"We are so appreciative of the continued support and participation of our local high schools and youth running programs, and the Santa Clarita Runners," said Kane. "Their participation since the early days of the series have helped grow the event to include runners that still travel from long distances just to participate."

As the COC campus was transformed during the decades so too was the series course. 

The original starting line located on the south end of campus was eventually relocated to the north side of campus closer to Valencia Blvd. in the 1990s. When campus construction projects threatened the existence of the series, organizers continued to find a way to host the beloved race series.

"We've cut trails, we've blazed trails, whatever it takes," remembered Kane about the evolution of the course, during an interview about the Summer Series in 2006.

Fast forward to 2025, and the COC Cross Country Summer Series is one of the last remaining events of its kind in Southern California.

Aside from that type of unprecedented longevity, what the original event organizers probably didn't foresee was the strong sense of tradition and comradery the series has generated among participants. 

"Over the decades we have seen many of the same runners attend again and again, year after year. Some now bring their families to experience the Summer Series just like they did so many years ago," Kane said. 

"The Summer Series is more than a competition, it's a tradition," added Kane. "Each race creates shared memories, friendly rivalries and continues community partnerships that are far more important than crowning an event winner."

AUG. 14 — FINAL RACE & AWARD CEREMONY

The final race of the 2025 COC Cross Country Summer Series takes place 7p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Valencia Campus. 

A celebratory dinner and brief awards ceremony will follow the race beginning at approximately 8:15 p.m. in the Cougar Den. Awards will be given to the top three men and women in each age division.

Event organizers and participants from throughout the 50-year history of the Summer Series will also be on-hand to share their memories and experiences.

A registration fee of $20 includes access to the post-race dinner. Event T-shirts will also be on sale at the event.

Proceeds benefit the Cougars' cross country and track & field 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.  

—Photo by Kyle Kawamoto/COC Sports Information