Cuesta College will have representation from both its mens and womens cross country teams at the 2026 3C2A State Championships on November 21 in Fresno, California. The womens team qualified as a unit for the third consecutive season, while the mens side will feature two individual qualifiers.
The Cuesta women secured their state berth by finishing in the Top 10 in a 24-team field at the 3C2A Regional meet and by winning the 2026 Western State Conference title. The team featured six all-Western State Conference performers, with three runners named to the first team and three to the second team. Freshman Carly Meeks and 2025 state qualifiers Bella Efner, Rebekah Waterbury, and Sophia Esparza Perez all led the Cougar pack during the season. Esparza Perez posted a team-best 41st-place finish at the Southern California Regional, a career-best placement among her teammates that helped clinch the teams state qualification.
The mens team did not qualify as a team, finishing 27th at the regional meet. However, Jeff Mendonca and Anthony Perez earned individual state qualifications. Mendonca, a team leader throughout the season, received all-Western State Conference Second Team and all-Southern California Second Team honors. Freshman Anthony Perez also earned all-WSC Second Team recognition and notably outperformed Mendonca at the conference finals.
The 2026 state championships present an opportunity for Cuesta Colleges cross country program to showcase its depth and talent, building on recent successes and aiming for strong performances in Fresno.
CSB Take
The Cuesta College womens cross country team continues its pattern of consistent achievement with a third straight state qualification and a conference championship, highlighting a deep roster led by rising talents like Sophia Esparza Perez. The mens squad, despite missing out on a team berth, has promising individual qualifiers in Jeff Mendonca and Anthony Perez, signaling potential for future team growth. This combination of sustained team success and emerging individual talent positions Cuesta College well for competitive showings at the state level and beyond.
Source: Original report
More coverage: Cuesta College.
