July 9, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State pole vaulter Stephanie Bagan has been named a Breitbard Star of the Month for June, the San Diego Hall of Champions announced Wednesday. Bagan is one of 14 athletes to earn the award and one of nine collegians to be recognized.
The Granite Bay, Calif., native is the first Aztec track and field athlete to earn Breitbard Star of the Month honors since Decontee Kaye won the award one year ago after her performance at the NCAA Championships where she finished in fourth place in the triple jump to earn All-America accolades.
Bagan is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign in which she earned All-America honors in the indoor and outdoor pole vault, won both indoor and outdoor Mountain West Conference titles and was named MWC outdoor track and field student-athlete of the year. Prior to her runner-up performance at the NCAA Championships, Bagan won the NCAA West Regional with a clearance of 14 feet, 3.50 inches (4.36m), an effort that stands as the top vault at SDSU, in the MWC and at Cal State Northridge's track facility.
Last week, Bagan competed at the United States Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., and unfortunately did not make it out of the qualifying round. However, Bagan will represent the U.S. at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships, July 18-20, in Toluca Mexico.
The Hall of Champions has been presenting Star of the Month plaques since 1946. The Stars of the Month from throughout the 2008 calendar year will be honored at the 63rd annual Salute to the Champions dinner on a date to be announced in late February, 2009.