Pirates capture 2026 Coast Classic

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's track and field team enjoyed the home surroundings and won the 2026 Coast Classic on Friday at the Jim McIlwain Track and Field Complex.

The Pirates earned themselves 190 points against some top competition as well as some warmer-than-usual temperatures. Saddleback College finished second overall with 108 points, while Ventura (96), East Los Angeles (85) and Pasadena City (51) rounded out the top-five team scores in the 12-team field.

Coast earned multiple points in several events, including a 1-2-3-4-5 finish in the hammer throw, highlighted by the top three throws turned by winner Marcos Lerma (153-feet, 8-inches), runner-up Nick Nelson (128-1) and third-place Josh Munger (120-7). 

Nelson earned the top spot in the discus with a throw of 123-11, nearly 3-feet past runner-up Mateo Chavez from Ventura College (121-2).

It was a 1-2 OCC finish in the 1,500. Bernie Enriquez took the top time at 4 minutes, 12.65 seconds, followed by Pirate teammate, William Dang, who finished second with a 4:18.63.

It was an Enriquez/Dang 1-2 finish in the 800 for the Pirates as well, with Enriquez finishing first (1:59.99), just ahead of Dang's runner-up time of 2:02.72.

Enriquez joined Anthony Buttacavoli, Josaiah Meggs and Josh Santos to win the 400 relay with a time of 3:21.78, nearly 9 seconds faster than runner-up Santa Monica's time of 3:30.41.

In the 110 hurdles, OCC sophomore Josh Miller crossed the finish line first with a time of 15.81, holding off OCC teammate, Govern Nguyen-Spitzberg (16.22).

In one of the closest races of the afternoon, Sean McEwen conquered the field to take first in the 400 with a time of 49.69, just ahead of SMCC's Kaleb Dawson, who finished second at 49.8.

Other top-three performances for the Pirates were turned in by ...

SECOND

3000 Steeplechase -- Peter Cao, 11:35.27

400 hurdles -- Josh Miller, 54.8

Shot Put -- Ty Meyer, 41-4 3/4

Triple Jump -- Josh Santos, 42-10 1/2

THIRD

Long Jump -- Josh Santos, 21-4

High Jump -- Cash Burton, 6-2 3/4

Javelin -- Josh Miller, 149-4

The Pirates will return to action on Friday at the Arnie Robinson Meet, hosted by San Diego Mesa College, beginning at 10 a.m.