(Fullerton, CA) Former Mountie Student-Athlete and current Mt. SAC Professor/Head Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Coach Giovanni Lanaro will be inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2021.
Lanaro (CSUF 2002-2004) will be honored in the ninth overall Titan Hall of Fame Class that includes the 1986 Softball Team (National Champions), Mike Pringle (Football, 1988-1989), Dr. Ken Ravizza (Sports Psychologist & Emeritus, 1977-2018), and Erin (Saddler) Henry (Women's Volleyball, 2007-2010).
This incredible 2021 Hall of Fame Class will be honored on Thursday, February 10th at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Brea (see link below for additional information).
A future Mt. SAC Hall of Famer as well, Lanaro was the 2000 Community College State Champion and 2001 National Community College Champion in the pole vault. His story is one of the most remarkable in the history of Mt. SAC Athletics. Entering Mt. SAC with a mere 11'06" personal best, in his first season he improved over 5 feet to jump 16'07" and place 4th at the US Junior (under 20) Championships. The next season, he shattered legendary pole vaulter Bob Seagren's college record of 17'01", jumping over that mark 8 times, with a final best mark of 17'06" and a national community championship.
The following year, as the #1 recruitable pole vaulter in the nation and despite being heavily recruited by nearly every major university with a pole vault program, he put his trust in then Titan Assistant Coach and current Mt. SAC Men's Head Coach Ron Kamaka, signing with Cal State Fullerton. At Cal State Fullerton, he shattered the university record on his first jump as a Titan and later set the current record of 18'04" 1/2. During his 2 years under Kamaka, he earned 3 NCAA Division 1 All-American Honors, became the first Titan to compete in the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships and qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games, representing Mexico.
After his collegiate eligibility ended, Lanaro returned to Mt. SAC to train and join the Mountie staff as an assistant coach. From there, he improved his personal best to 19'01," earned a top 10 world ranking for many years, competed in numerous indoor/outdoor world championships and made a final trip to the Olympics in 2008.
Lanaro has easily transitioned his winning ways to his coaching. In the ten years coaching the Mt. SAC Pole Vaulters, he has produced 5 individual state champions along with numerous state finalists. In 2017, he was named the USA Track and Field Pole Vault Development National Collegiate Pole Vault Coach of the Year. He became the Mt. SAC Women's Head Coach in 2017 and since that time, has led his women's teams to state championship titles in Cross Country (2021) and Track & Field (2018).
For additional information on the Hall of Fame Dinner and ceremony, please visit:
https://www.fullertontitans.com/general/2021-22/releases/20211210rtwly2
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4640.