June 25, 2008

SAN DIEGO - San Diego State pole vaulter Stephanie Bagan has been selected to the United States team that is scheduled to compete at the 2008 North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Track and Field Championships, July 18-20, in Toluca, Mexico.

Bagan made it through a selection process in which USA Track and Field selected no more than two athletes per event. To be eligible for selection, athletes needed to meet the NACAC Under-23 qualifying standards. In Bagan's case, the rising junior needed a minimum clearance of 11 feet, 9.75 inches (3.60m), a height she surpassed in every outdoor meet during the 2008 season.

The Granite Bay, Calif., native 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. On July 3, Bagan will take her 14-3.50 to Eugene, Ore., where she will compete at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Team USA is led by head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan and head manager Tonie Campbell. The pair is assisted by Lori Shepard, Carl Sheffield and Anna Mahon.