Competing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, Valentin Soca, runner on the California Baptist University cross country & track team and junior psychology major, secured 15th place at the men’s 5K Finals in Tokyo, Japan. Competition and perseverance are key for CBU’s cross country and track team, and Soca represented that on his run.
When Soca first started running in his freshman year, he set records in multiple competitions and was named ‘Men’s XC Freshman of the Year.’
Throughout Soca’s freshman year in track, he claimed personal bests in the 10K, 5K and 1500M within the program, each at different competitions. Due to his efforts, Soca was honored as the WAC Champion for completing the 1500M with a time of 3:42.09.
His freshman year breakthroughs were only the beginning. During his sophomore year, Soca competed for cross country in the 10K West Regionals and placed third. Soca’s personal best for this run was recorded at 29:02.0.
For track, Soca participated in eight competitions for the Outdoor 2024 season. With a 12th-place finish at the West Regionals, Soca advanced to the Outdoor Nationals. Upon completion, he landed a time of 28:58.57.
The results of this run landed him in 16th place overall and earned him the title of ‘Second Team All-American.’ Soca also became the first male athlete at CBU to qualify for nationals.
In April of his junior year, Soca participated in the outdoor competition at the Bryan Clay Invitational. This 5K run wrapped up his outdoor season for 2025.
According to a CBU Athletics article on Sept. 21, 2025, Ryley Collom, assistant athletic director for communications and digital media, Soca’s strides for success were reflected in his achievements.
“The junior posted one of the most decorated seasons in the history of CBU athletics on the collegiate side, earning a pair of All-American honors and posting the seventh fastest 5K time in NCAA history (13:13.10),” Collom said.
This accomplishment opened a door for Soca to compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Competing for his home country of Uruguay, Soca advanced through the prelims and carried to the finish line wearing race number seven.
Soca set a goal of 8th place, but he surpassed it by accomplishing 5th place in his heat with a time of 13:41.80.
In the final run of the tournament, Soca competed against qualifying runners, who included previous national champions.
Soca justified his training and skill by claiming 15th place with a time of 13:34:55. This time improved his program record in the 5K meter, as well as the national records.
The race ended up being Soca’s fifth fastest run of the 5K races he competed in throughout this season. Soca showed perseverance as he fought through the finish line, consistently succeeding in the tournament.
