Taylor, Gonzales Claim State Titles in Lofgren’s Final Meet as Head Coach

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. --- After a nearly 40-year stint as the head coach of El Camino College Track and Field, Dean Lofgren's coaching career came to an end on Saturday with two more state champions to add to the ledger as Anthony Taylor and Sequioa Gonzales each claimed a state title at the 2024 3C2A State Championships this past weekend at Saddleback College.

Gonzales got things started on Friday in the 10,000m final as she made school history, winning the event in a school-record time of 36:22.19. It was also the fastest time in the event at the state meet since 2015.

Teammate Ami Jacobson placed third with a time of 36:40.12, the second-best mark in school history. Itandehui Olea of Allan Hancock was sandwiched between the ECC duo in second place with a time of 36:37.95.

Gonzales and Jacobson exchanged pacing duties every 2 laps as they have done this season during the final. But this time Olea, who had the third best time in Southern California entering Friday, stuck right with them. In the fourth mile, Jacobson began to quicken the pace with Gonzales close and Olea dropping off a bit. With a mile to go, Sequoia took the lead and started to open a gap with Ami and Olea now right together. Gonzales would continue to pull away and claim the victory while Olea edged out Jacobson for second place.

On Saturday, Taylor entered the 110 high hurdles final as the state leader in the event and he showed why as he cruised to a state title with a personal best time of 14.12. He missed breaking the ECC record by just one-hundreth of a second. He would return later in the day to finish fifth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 53.47.

Gonzales and Jacobson also returned to action on Saturday and placed third (17:38.95) and seventh (17:53.76) respectively.

Alexis Pitts also competed at state in the 100m final where she placed eighth with a time of 12.26.

Overall, the Warriors' women placed 11th in a 37-team field while the men finished 12th overall in a 33-team field in Lofgren's final meet as head coach of the Warriors.

Lofgren began his track and field coaching career with ECC in 1991. During his tenure the Warriors have won two 3C2A State Championships in track to go along with two titles in cross country. In addition, the Warriors have boasted a number of individual state champions, capped off with Taylor and Gonzales this season.

One of the most respected and admired coaches amongst his peers, Lofgren has garnered 6 CCCAA and 26 South Coast Conference Coach-of-the-Year Honors. In 2017, Lofgren was inducted into the 5CTCA Hall of Fame.

Lofgren will return in the fall to coach one last season of Warriors cross country, a job he's held at ECC since 1989.