Arcadia Invitational
Encyclopedia
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
competitions in the United States. It has been billed as "Home of National Records." The meet is held at Arcadia High School
Arcadia High School (Arcadia, California)
Arcadia High School is a part of the Arcadia Unified School District and is a four-year comprehensive secondary school located on a site in Arcadia, California. Their motto is"Our Caring Makes a Difference."...
in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
, on the second weekend in April. The Arcadia Invitational attracts some of the top prep athletes in the United States and internationally (Canada, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand). The Arcadia Invitational is the home of 25 national records and 124 US Olympians.
History
In 1968, Arcadia High SchoolArcadia High School
Arcadia High School may refer to:*Arcadia High School *Arcadia High School *Arcadia High School *Arcadia High School *Arcadia High School *Arcadia High School...
track coach, Doug Smith had an idea for an evening track meet for all the area schools. The first Invitational was held more than 40 years ago, with 23 schools and six track clubs participating. Arcadia graduate, Tracy Smith was the first of many future Olympic Athletes to be a winner in the Arcadia Invitational. She went on to participate in the 1968 high-altitude, Mexico City Olympics. 1970 is the meet that Doug Smith felt was a giant step in the development of the meet into more of a "Southern California" event. Santa Ana
Santa Ana
-People:*Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary*Santa Anna , Native American tribal leader*Antonio López de Santa Anna , Mexican general and President-United States:*Santa Ana, California...
Coach Earl Engman, who was the Meet Director of the Southern Section championship affairs entered his championship squad from Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, enhancing the event with the members of his top program from the greater San Gabriel Valley.
The Invitation went on to produce 19 US records and 79 Olympians in the first 35 Arcadia invitationals. It is now the largest outdoor high school meet in the United States.
Notable runners
- Jahvid BestJahvid BestJahvid Andre Best is a running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was selected by the Lions with the 30th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. In college, he played for the California Golden Bears, setting several records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and...
- Quincy WattsQuincy WattsQuincy D. Watts is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics.Born in Detroit, Michigan, Quincy Watts attended the University of Southern California where he excelled not only as an athlete but also as a wide receiver on the college football team...
- Steve LewisSteve LewisSteve Lewis may refer to:* Steve Lewis , cave and wreck diver* Steve Lewis , jazz pianist and composer* Steve Lewis , former American track and field athlete* Steven Lewis , British pole vaulter...
- Danny EverettDanny EverettDaniel Joseph Everett is a 400 metre runner from the United States. As a 21-year-old he participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the individual event and a gold medal with the United States 4x400 m relay...
- Valerie Brisco-HooksValerie Brisco-HooksValerie Ann Brisco-Hooks won three gold medals as an Olympic track and field athlete at the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, California, making her the first Olympian to win gold medals in both the 200- and 400-meter races at a single Olympics. She also won a gold medal for the 4x400 m...
- Gail DeversGail DeversYolanda Gail Devers is a retired three-time Olympic champion in track and field for the US Olympic Team. Devers was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up near National City, California and graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1984...
- Mike PowellMike Powell (athlete)Michael Anthony Powell born is a former American track and field athlete, and the holder of the long jump world record.Mike Powell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
- Michael Marsh
- Marion JonesMarion JonesMarion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
- Allyson FelixAllyson FelixAllyson Felix is a track and field sprint athlete, who competes internationally for the United States, primarily in the 200 meters. She also competes at the 100 meters and the 400 meters distances...
- Monique HendersonMonique HendersonMonique Henderson is a track and field athlete, competing internationally for the United States. She was a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China....
- Deena KastorDeena KastorDeena Michelle Kastor is an American long-distance runner. She holds American records in the marathon, half-marathon, and numerous road distances. She won the bronze medal in the women's marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece...
- Michelle PerryMichelle PerryMichelle Perry is an American athlete. At the 2004 Summer Olympics she placed 14th overall in the heptathlon competition...
- Alan WebbAlan Webb (athlete)Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
- Cathy FreemanCathy FreemanCatherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAM is former Australian sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at which she lit the Olympic Flame.Freeman was the first ever Aboriginal...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... - Steve Smith (American football, born 1985)
Boys meet records
100 MetersJamere Holland (Taft, Woodland Hills, CA) 10.36 2006
200 Meters
Henry Thomas (Hawthorne, CA) 20.79 1985
400 Meters
Bryshon Nellum (Poly, Long Beach, CA) 46.02 2007
800 Meters
Michael Granville (Bell Gardens, CA) 1:47.96 1995
1600 Meters
Alan Webb
Alan Webb (athlete)
Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
(South Lakes, Reston, VA) 3:59.51c 2001
3200 Meters
Thom Hunt (Patrick Henry, San Diego, CA) 8:42.30 1976
5000 Meters
Chris Derrick (Neuqua Valley, IL) 13:55.96 2008
110 Meter High Hurdles
Ricky Harris (Centerville, Clifton, VA) 13.51 2000
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
David Klech (California, San Ramon, CA) 35.45 2006
400 Meter Relay
Muir
John Muir High School (Pasadena, California)
John Muir High School is a four-year comprehensive secondary school in Pasadena, California, United States and is a part of the Pasadena Unified School District. The school is named after preservationist John Muir.-History:...
, Pasadena, CA 40.28 1997
1600 Meter Relay
Muir
John Muir High School (Pasadena, California)
John Muir High School is a four-year comprehensive secondary school in Pasadena, California, United States and is a part of the Pasadena Unified School District. The school is named after preservationist John Muir.-History:...
, Pasadena, CA 3:08.92 1996
Distance Medley
Atlantic Community, Del Ray Beach, FL 9:57.88 2001
Sprint Medley
Poly
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
, Long Beach, CA 1:28.43 2007
Long Jump
Dion Bentley (Penn Hills, Pittsburgh, PA) 25-03.75 1989
Triple Jump
Will Claye (Mountain Pointe, Phoenix, AZ) 51-07.50 2008
High Jump
Mike Morrison (Willingboro, NJ) 7-03.00 2003
Pole Vault
Nico Weiler (Los Gatos, CA) 17-04 2008
Shot Put
Brent Noon (Fallbrook, CA) 71-04.25 1990
Discus Throw
Niklas Arrhenius (Mountain View, Orem UT) 234-03 2001
Decathlon
Curtis Beach (Albuquerque, NM) 7909 2009
Girls meet records
100 MetersAngela Williams
Angela Williams
Angela Williams is an American athlete. Williams attended the University of Southern California, graduating in 2002....
(Chino, CA) 11.32 1998
200 Meters
Marion Jones
Marion Jones
Marion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
(Rio Mesa, Oxnard, CA) 22.87 1991
400 Meters
Monique Henderson
Monique Henderson
Monique Henderson is a track and field athlete, competing internationally for the United States. She was a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China....
(Morse, San Diego, CA) 52.51 2001
800 Meters
Heidi Magill (Mountain View, Orem, UT) 2:06.34 2002
1600 Meters
Alex Kosinski (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills, CA) 4:41.70c 2007
3200 Meters
Jordan Hasay
Jordan Hasay
Jordan Melissa Hasay is an American female middle-distance runner. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, attending Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She was unanimously selected 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year by the voting panel at Track & Field News...
(Mission College Prep, San Luis Obispo, CA) 10:03.7c 2007
100 Meter High Hurdles
Julian Purvis (St. Elizabeth, Oakland, CA) 13.59 2008
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Lashinda Demus
Lashinda Demus
Lashinda Demus is an American hurdler who specialises in the 400 meter hurdles.Her personal best time over 400m hurdles is 52.47 seconds in Daegu, South Korea on September 1, 2011, which is currently the women's 3rd fastest time ever. Also she is the American Record holder in 400m Hurdles...
(Wilson, Long Beach, CA) 40.70 2001
400 Meter Relay
Poly
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
, Long Beach, CA 44.95 2004
1600 Meter Relay
Wilson, Long Beach, CA 3:39.12 2001
Distance Medley
Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, CA 11:41.28 2007
Long Jump
Jernae Wright (James Logan, Union City, CA) 20’09.75" 1995
Triple Jump
Brittany Daniels (Merrill West, Tracy, CA) 43’05.00” 2005
High Jump
Yleana Carrasco (Anaheim, CA) 6’00.00" 1985
Pole Vault
Tori Anthony
Tori Anthony
Tori Anthony is an American pole vaulter from Palo Alto, California and the holder of the national indoor and outdoor records for high school women at 14' 2-1/2" and 14' 1" respectively. She was originally a gymnast, but burned out on the sport and switched to track and water polo...
(Castilleja, Palo Alto, CA) 13’07”00 2007
Shot Put
Kristin Heaston
Kristin Heaston
Kristin L. Heaston is a female shot putter from the United States.Heaston was a participant in the 2008 Olympic Games where she placed 23rd in the qualifying round with a throw of 17.34m...
(Ygnacio Valley, Concord, CA) 51’01.50" 1993
Discus Throw
Seilala Sua
Seilala Sua
Seilala Maria Sua is a female discus thrower from the United States. Her personal best throw is 65.90 metres, achieved in July 2000 in Sacramento....
(St. Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale FL) 180’02" 1996