San Diego Mesa-first state cross country champions

The year was 1964 (11/28/64) and Mt. SAC’s legendary course was the site. Running over a 5k course San Diego Mesa’s (then called Mesa College) Bill Trujillo ran 16:19 to history as our first state champion in leading Mesa to the title. 
Individuals:
1. Bill Trujillo, San Diego Mesa
2. Bob Branch, Pierce College
3. Marcel Hetu, College of San Mateo
4. Bob Lamorandier, Grossmont
5. Ralph Likens, College of San Mateo
Team Results:
1. Mesa College (now San Diego Mesa)-57 pts., Dick Coxe, coach
2. American River-66 pts., Al Baeta, coach
3. Fullerton College-95 pts., Tom Tellez, coach
4. College of San Mateo-114 pts., Berny Wagner
5. Foothill College-131 pts., Coach Makado
Footnotes: Coaches Coxe and Baeta are members of the California CC Track & Field Hall of Fame; Coach Tellez went on to UCLA and then Houston where he coached Olympic legend Carl Lewis his entire career; Coach Wagner went on to Oregon State and a successful career that included coaching Dick Fosbury of Fosbury Flop high jump technique.

First state meet at Woodward Park, Fresno-1967

On a cloudy, overcast day in treeless and barren Woodward Park
Pasadena CC edged Fullerton 71-78 to take the first state meet held in the now historic Fresno park. Pasadena’s Jesse Gomez and Bill Scruggs finished fifth and sixth on the four mile course to lead the talented Lancer’s to the state title (PCC’s fourth man, Kurt Lawson, ran 9:05 to win the West Coast Relay JC two mile). Bakersfield, Southern California CC Champion coached by Bob Covey, finished in third place.
   The Lancers were coached by Larry Knuth, later to coach at UC Irvine and USC. Gomez became the long-time cross country and track and field coach at his alma mater.
   The 1967 meet was the first cross country championship of any level held there. It appeared as though more runners were present than spectators-much different from present-day state championships in Fresno.
Research by Bob Covey and Larry Knuth