El Cajon, CA

Sophomore runner Steven Valadez Jr. has been named PCAC Athlete of the Month for cross country after finishing 5th overall at the CCCAA State Championships in Fresno.

Valadez clocked a personal-best 4-mile time of 20:19.1, earning All-American honors and helping Cuyamaca secure its first men's cross country state title in 32 years. His performance capped a season of steady improvement, including a 7th-place finish at the PCAC Championships and a strong showing at SoCal Regionals.