After a third place finish at the South Coast Conference Championships at Chaffey College, the men’s swimming team looks to leave a mark when it competes in the State Championships at East Los Angeles College.

The State Championships will begin on Thursday and will continue Friday and Saturday.

Freshmen Eugene Runas, Marcus Delgado, Joshua Owens, Nathan Unpornducki and Sophomores Joshua Hanein, Enrico Hidalgo will represent Cerritos College at the State Championships.

Runas will be competing the in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke.

“I feel confident and prepared going into (the) State Championships,” he said.

Runas added what he his goals are for the State Championships,”(I want to) beat my new personal record in the 100-yard breaststroke and go under a (time of) 58.45.”

Runas set a record on Feb. 22 at the Golden West Invitational when he swam the 50-yard breaststroke in a time of 59.97.

The Falcons will also be participating in the 200-yard, 400-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard, 400-yard medley relay.

Owens, who is one of the representatives for the team in the relays, is hoping his team can take advantage of the opportunity.

“(This) is a great opportunity for our guys, we were fortunate enough to have six guys make it in so we have to work together and just swim fast,” said Owens.

He also added, “We all hope to drop more time and set records for everyone else behind.”

Head coach Joe Abing knows the season isn’t over yet and hopes his team continues to give it its all.

“I hope we continue to swim well and support one another,” he said.

With the State Championships being the last competitions for the men’s swimming team, it admits it was a pretty good season.

“This season we have had ups and downs but they have only made us a better team. This season has been a great learning experience and I hope we use what we learned to become better individuals in life,” said Owens.

Abing also added, “I have really enjoyed the season. We had a hard working group. It was fun.”