COC hosts 10th annual ‘Turkey Trot’

Event benefits college’s cross country, track, field programs

Athletes of all ages gathered at College of the Canyons Thursday for the 10th annual Thanksgiving Day “Turkey Trot,” an event that aims to benefit the college’s cross country and track and field programs.

COC’s Athletics Department invited the Santa Clarita Valley community out to run, walk or jog at the Valencia campus’ three-mile cross country course, which begins at the college’s baseball field, continues through the campus and winds through the hills before finally finishing inside Cougar Stadium.

More than 200 runners participated in the Thanksgiving Day run, which was twice the amount of expected participants, head coach Lindie Kane said, adding that the large number of runners forced a delay in the the start of the

“It was the largest turnout ever and we’re hoping that next year we are able to have even more show out.” Lindie Kane, COC cross country head coach

race. “We had a big turnout with youth and seniors, this year,” as kids as young as 6 years old and adults as old as 68 participated.

In the end, Caleb McClain, a former Canyon High School student, would claim the competition’s top time at 16 minutes and 33 seconds, while Marissa Marti, a 17-year-old Valencia High School student, finished as the race’s fastest woman with a time of 21 minutes and 4 seconds.

“It was the largest turnout ever and we’re hoping that next year we are able to have even more show out,” Kane said, adding, “All of the money raised benefits our program and any expenditures that go beyond our athletic budget,” including the cost of travel, entry fees, uniforms and equipment.

For more information about the 10th annual Thanksgiving Day ‘Turkey Trot’ event or to find out how you can assist the college’s athletics teams, visit COC’s website at bit. ly/2KvhGR6.

(Right) From left: Runners Kalina Giacone, 11, Jenna O’Sullivan, 10, and Kendall Giacone, 10, tie their shoes at the starting line as they prepare for the start of the annual “Turkey Trot” 5K.

Dan Watson/The Signal (Left) Jill Cox, left, and Sarah Phillips, right, pick out Turkey Trot T-shirts for the 17 members of their families who participated in the annual “Turkey Trot” 5K run held at College of the Canyons on Thursday.