Magg sparks Vaquero victory at WSC Coastal Meet

Marvin Magg scored 32 points and Bas van Leersum added 24 on Friday as SBCC topped the field in the WSC Coastal men's track and field meet at Cuesta.

The Vaqueros won nine events and had 13 season-best marks on the way to scoring 205 points. Cuesta was second at 154, followed by Ventura (94) and Hancock (72).

Magg won the javelin and shot put and took third in the hammer (season-best 39.86 meters) and discus. His javelin toss of 184 feet, 6½ inches was No. 4 in school history. Aaron Mateski was second in the javelin, just .02 meters behind Magg.

Van Leersum won the 400 meters in his first try at the event this year and also took the 400 hurdles. His 400 time of 48.41 was No. 4 in SBCC history. He also ran on the winning 4 x 100 relay and the third-place 4 x 400 relay.

Phillip Skopnik threw a PR to win the hammer (43.19m) and move into fifth on the all-time list. He also had a PR in the shot (12.03m), where he finished fourth. Skopnik scored 16 points.

Gustavo Bello, a freshman from Santa Barbara High, had the only win in the distance races, using a fierce finishing kick to take the 800 in 2:02.85. "Gustavo remained patient and alert and when he saw his chance, he went for it," said coach Scott Fickerson. "I was impressed with his speed at the end."

Fickerson added: "We knew it would be very close between Ventura, Cuesta and ourselves. The throwers put their mark on the day by going 1-2 in the javelin and just continued to dominate. It was an all-around team effort and it's really great to come away with the win, which turned out to be a pretty dominant victory."

The Vaqueros will compete in the Mt. SAC Invitational on April 11.