Vanguard’s best intentions

Barry Faulkner

Bigger is not only better, it may mean the best season ever for the

Vanguard University men’s cross country program this fall.

Coach Bryan Wilkins enters his 16th season at the helm with a

deep, talented and experienced roster, boasting an all-time high 10

athletes. Wilkins also brings some lofty expectations into the

season-opening Cal State Fullerton Invitational Aug. 30.

“This is the biggest group I’ve ever had and I think it has the

potential to be as good or better than the last two teams we had

qualify for [NAIA] nationals [1994 and ‘95],” Wilkins said.

Senior Tony Magana, the No. 1 runner a year ago, returns, as do

the remainder of last year’s top three: senior Mike Larsson and

sophomore Matt Meyer. In addition, senior Robbie Jones, the No. 1

runner for the Lions in 2001, is back after sitting out last fall

with a hamstring injury.

Junior Erick Garcia, who qualified for the Community College state

championships last season at Santa Ana College, is another athlete

with prime potential, as is freshman Derek Arnesen, who starred at

John Jay High in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Junior John Nelson, the No. 5 runner on last year’s squad, is also

back, giving Wilkins enough ammunition to battle the elite teams in

the Golden State Athletic Conference.

“I would say by the end of the season, our top six guys will all

be running 25 minutes or possibly 26 minutes for 8K,” Wilkins said.

“Last year, we only had three guys under 27:00. I think this team has

the talent to qualify for the nationals, where we haven’t been since

1995.”

Magana, a product of Estancia High and Orange Coast College, sat

out the track season last spring, after earning All-American honors

by finishing sixth in the 10,000 meters at nationals in 2002. His

best 8K time is 25:32. He was All-GSAC and competed at the NAIA cross

country nationals last fall.

Jones, whose hamstring injury took six months to heal, taking him

out of cross country competition last fall, is still trying to regain

his top form. But Wilkins believes Jones should make strong progress

throughout this season and eventually challenge for the top spot on

the team. He clocked a 26:04 over 8K in 2001.

“He has a little ground to make up, but he seems to be pretty

healthy and he has the talent,” Wilkins said.

Larsson, an All-GSAC performer in 2002, ran a season-best 26:04

last fall, while Meyer posted a best of 26:30 last season. Meyer

followed up his debut cross country season with a strong freshman

campaign in track. He was seventh in the 1,500 at nationals last

spring, Wilkins said.

Garcia’s best was 26:05 at Santa Ana, while Arnesen went 17:08

over 5K as a prep.

Freshmen Alex Castro (California High in Whittier), Zach Powell

(Costa Mesa High) and Dustin Williams (Kamehameha High in Hawaii),

round out the roster.

“We have several guys who could qualify as individuals for

nationals, but we want to qualify as a team,” Wilkins said. “We were

fourth in the GSAC last year, but I think we have a chance to finish

in the top two this year. Azusa Pacific won it last year and it’s the

team to beat again.”