El Cajon, CA

Cuyamaca College made history with its first men's cross country state title since 1993 — and at the heart of that championship run were three standout sophomores who raced their way to CCCAA All-American honors: Ivan Guzman, Steven Valadez Jr., and Dominic Rizzo.

Each delivered a career performance at Woodward Park, finishing inside the top 11 to earn the prestigious honor and cement their status among California's elite collegiate distance runners.

Ivan Guzman – 4th Place (20:14.8) | All-American

Guzman capped one of the most dominant seasons in Cuyamaca history. The sophomore finished fourth overall at the state championships, running a massive personal best of 20:14.8 over four miles.

His All-American finish adds to a remarkable 2025 resume:

• Undefeated against all PCAC competition

• PCAC Champion and overall champion of the combined PCAC/IEAC meet

• Three wins in 2025:

  • 15:59 at the Cuyamaca Kick-Off 5K (course record)

  • 20:43 at the Golden West Central Park Classic

  • 21:24 at the PCAC Championship

• Top 10 at SoCal Regionals (20:37.7)

• 24:47 8K PR at the UC Riverside Invitational against university-level competition

Under the leadership of Coach Tim Seaman and Coach Thom Hunt, Guzman has developed into one of the top distance runners in the state and a cornerstone of Cuyamaca's championship roster.

Steven Valadez Jr. – 5th Place (20:19.1) | All-American

Valadez delivered the performance of his career when it mattered most, placing fifth overall with a breakthrough 20:19.1 PR — nearly two minutes faster than his PCAC Championship performance.

His season progression shows one of the strongest year-to-year jumps in the program:

• 5K PR of 17:07

• 4-mile PR 20:19.1 at State

• Top 7 at the PCAC Championships (22:27)

• 29th at SoCal Regionals (21:03.9)

• 25:06 8K PR at UC Riverside

Valadez's consistency, racing IQ, and late-season surge made him a crucial piece of the Coyotes' title-winning top five.

Dominic Rizzo – 11th Place (20:31.6) | All-American

Rizzo stepped up on the biggest stage, earning his first All-American honor with an 11th-place finish and a huge lifetime best of 20:31.6.

His 2025 season has been defined by steady, reliable improvement:

• 5K PR 17:05 at the Cuyamaca Kick-Off

• 21:16 at the Golden West Classic

• 6th place at the PCAC Championship (22:19)

• 38th at SoCal (21:19.6)

• 20:31.6 PR at State to secure All-American status

• 25:34 8K PR at the UC Riverside Invitational

Rizzo's ability to rise when it counts most anchored Cuyamaca's scoring lineup and helped lock in the championship margin.

A Historic Day for Cuyamaca Cross Country

The All-American trio led the way as Cuyamaca captured its first men's cross country state title in 32 years, defeating much larger programs in a true David-and-Goliath storyline — one Coach Seaman has referenced throughout the season.

Their All-American finishes represent the program's renewed strength and the impact of Seaman and Hunt, two long-respected figures in American distance running.