"Nando" Named SCC Men's Athlete of the Year

by Cerwin D Haynes

Fresh off winning a South Coast Conference title in the Men's 400m Dash and helping his 4x100 Relay place second, East Los Angeles College's sophomore mid-distance runner Fernando Valenzuela has been named the 2025 SCC Athlete of the Year in Men's Running [events]. 

Valenzuela, or "Nando" as his teammates call him, currently ranks third in the State in the Men's 400m. He's also eighth in the 800m and in the top-15 for the 200m while playing a huge role in the resurrection of the ELAC men's relay team, which are currently top-20 in State in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

ELAC Track & Field head coach Milton Browne says Nando's performance has meant a lot to the program. "It means that at East LA we can produce," said Browne. "We have the ability to produce some of the best athletes in the conference and the state, so when athletes are looking for a place to go, we should be one of those places."

Coach Browne's vision for his program has been well-documented here over the past two-plus years. Although no longer a one-person show (see: Valenzuela, Fernando spring 2023 and Flores, Marbella spring 2024), Valenzuela's success highlights the overall improvement of East LA's track and field this season. "It shows we're making steps towards...developing one of the top track programs in the state", Browne commented. "We have to keep working and recruiting, working on our athletes and try to make sure they have success".

Back to the SCC PoY: Valenzuela posted a top time of 47.59 in the Men's 400m at last Saturday's SoCal Regionals. While he'll look to repeat that performance and take home SoCal gold this Saturday, Coach Browne just wants Nando to performs to his capabilities. "I don't want to put a number on it," said coach. "He performs like he's capable, [he'll] have some good results."

"He's been the ultimate performer throughout the season, so he just has to be his self and I think we'll be happy with the outcome."

HUSKY BITS

• William Liu has been the Huskies' second-best runner this season. He's ranked in the State top-10 in the Men's 100m Dash and 13th in the 200m Dash, as well as helping Valenzuela anchor a State top-15 relay team. But a leg injury at the SCC Championships has put a damper on his ability to finish out the season in said events.
• Valenzuela was also named one of the Men's Tri-Athletes of the SCC Championships Meet-Running Events for his performances in the 400m (champion) and 4x100 relay (2nd).

UP NEXT:

The Southern California (SoCal) Regional Championships are this Saturday at Saddleback College, starting at 10am.

Meet information can be found here. And click here to buy tickets to attend (cashless event).