Triple Jumper Gets a Lift From County Meet

Last year, Lisa Fager set a personal best in the triple jump (39-feet 4-inches) at the Orange County Girls’ Track and Field Championships at Rancho Santiago College.

Fager, a junior at Mission Viejo High School, returned to the county championships at Rancho Santiago Saturday, and again, she set a personal best.

But this year, her distance in the triple jump was not only good enough to break her personal record, but also the meet and Orange County records, which had stood since 1986.

Fager, The Times’ athlete of the week, jumped 39-11 1/2--more than a foot farther than Ocean View’s Debbie Orr, who set the meet record at 38-3 1/2. Fager also bettered Orr’s county record of 39-8 1/4.

Fager was named field athlete of the meet for her effort, the third-best jump of any high school girl in California this year.

“She really likes jumping at Rancho Santiago College,” said John Hattrup, her jumping coach at Mission Viejo. “If I could get that scenery and runway and transplant it everywhere she jumps, I could just sit back and relax, and say, ‘All right, Lisa, you’re at home now, just jump.’ ”

Fager had her sights set on eventually breaking the county record, but on Saturday she was planning just to break 39 feet.

“I didn’t think I was going to jump that far,” she said.

Her coach, however, expected the prolific jump.

“It is a great mark, and I was really excited for her, but it is not surprising,” Hattrup said. “Her goal is 40 feet, and she is a very goal-oriented kid, very disciplined. She works really hard, she listens and she can do that. She will push herself to that limit. It is not surprising to me, but I am really happy.”

Fager also competes in the high jump and long jump and has been filling in for injured teammate Suzanne Kerho in the 100-meter low hurdles.

But the triple jump comes first.

“I think it is probably my favorite because I am good at it. That tends to make it more fun,” she said.

Though Fager does not have blazing speed, she compensates with good technique and intelligence, Hattrup said.

“If it came down to just a sprint, she would probably lose to everybody she jumps against because she is not that fast,” he said. “But she has good jumping ability, very good technique and adequate speed, and you put those three together and you’ve got a pretty good jumper.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Nikkanni Andrews hit a three-run home run in Saddleback’s 6-2 Sea View League softball victory over University Wednesday and came back with another home run and three runs scored to lead Saddleback (19-2, 9-0) over University, 6-1, Friday.

Janet Evans of El Dorado was named the swimmer of the meet at the Foothill Invitational after winning the 200 individual medley (2:05.7), breaking her own meet record, and the 500 freestyle (4:45.09).

Kaci Keffer of Woodbridge was named the sprinter of the meet at the Orange County Girls’ Track and Field Championships Saturday for her victories in the 400 meters (59.96) and the 300 hurdles (45.39).

Amy Moeller, Mater Dei pitcher, doubled in the go-ahead run in the Monarchs’ 10-inning, 4-2 Angelus League victory over Rosary Tuesday. On Thursday, Moeller (5-1) pitched a one-hitter to help the Monarchs defeat Bishop Montgomery, 2-1, in another Angelus League game.

Stephanie Smith pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts for Garden Grove in a 9-0 Garden Grove League victory over Santiago Tuesday. She came back Thursday to pitch a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 1-0, eight-inning victory over Los Amigos.

Lisa Fager

Mission Viejo High

Position: Triple jump, long jump, high jump, 100-meter low hurdles

Height, Weight, Class: 5-10, 121, Junior

Last Week: Fager set a county record in the triple jump (39-11 1/2) at the Orange County Girls’ Track and Field Championships Saturday.

Season: Fager is undefeated in the triple jump through six dual and three invitational meets.