College track and field: Magana wins 3,000 at Claremont

CLAREMONT - Vanguard University junior Tony Magana won the men’s

3,000 meters in a school-record time of 8:48.85 to pace several Lion

track and field standouts Saturday at the Claremont Classic.

Magana broke the school standard set earlier this year by teammate

Robbie Jones. Magana also met the automatic qualifying standard for

nationals. He has also qualified for nationals in the 3,000 steeplechase

and the 10,000 and he plans to compete in either or both, passing up the

3,000.

Vanguard senior high jumper Beth Weidler broke her own school record

by clearing 5-4 1/4 to finish third.

Weidler set the latest record on her third jump, topping her old mark

of 5-4. The mark is a provisional national qualifying standard, but may

earn Weidler an automatic qualifying berth if it is among the top 16

marks this season.

Junior Sarah Hall took 26 seconds off her personal best by clocking a

10:26.44 to finish third in the 3,000. Hall’s time is only seven seconds

shy of a 12-year-old school record, held by her mother, Sherri Hall. The

younger Hall’s time meets the provisional qualifying standard for

nationals. Hall, however, has already qualified in the 10,000 and will

likely concentrate on that event.

Vanguard sophomore Debby Baeder also had a record-setting performance

in the Steve Scott Invitational, held May 5 at UC Irvine. She soared 17-2

3/4 to surpass the Vanguard record she already held. Baeder’s leap was

also her first beyond the 17-foot barrier.