The first Masters Southern California Track and Field Championships was held on June 1, 1974, at

Sunny Hills High School Sunny Hills High School (SHHS) is a public high school located in Fullerton, California, United States. Established in 1959, it is part of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. The campus, consisting mostly of single-story open plan bui ...

in Fullerton. Masters class Track and Field had officially started in 1968 in nearby San Diego. Since its first annual meet, the Masters Southern California Track and Field Championships has been held every successive year except 2020, when the meet was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the meet has been organized under a succession of organizations: the Southern California Association of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU),

The Athletics Congress USA Track & Field (USATF) is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking (known as the sport of athletics outside the US). The USATF was known between 1979 and ...

(TAC), and currently USA Track and Field (USATF).

History of Masters So Cal

Through the efforts of David Pain, Masters Track and Field and its first Outdoor Track and Field Championship was founded in 1968. The Masters So Cal Outdoor Track and Field Championship competition was first held in June 1974. The 2019 meet included a complete set of running (

sprints Sprint may refer to: Aerospace *Spring WS202 Sprint, a Canadian aircraft design *Sprint (missile), an anti-ballistic missile Automotive and motorcycle * Alfa Romeo Sprint, automobile produced by Alfa Romeo between 1976 and 1989 *Chevrolet Sprint ...

, middle distance, long distance, and

relays A relay Electromechanical relay schematic showing a control coil, four pairs of normally open and one pair of normally closed contacts An automotive-style miniature relay with the dust cover taken off A relay is an electrically operated switch ...

), hurdles,

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

, racewalking, and field events (

high jump The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In its modern, most-practiced format, a bar is placed between two standards with a crash mat f ...

, pole vault, long jump, triple jump,

shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's ...

, discus, hammer throw, and

javelin A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the sling, bow, and crossbow, which launch projectiles with th ...

). Historically, many records have been produced at this meet. Tom Patsalis' M60 World Record in the long jump at Masters So Cal has stood since 1982. In total there are eight current Masters American Records that were set at this meet (see List of United States records in masters athletics). The June 1975 meet included athletes

Daniel Aldrich Daniel Gaskill Aldrich, Jr. (July 12, 1918 – April 9, 1990) was the founding Chancellor (education)#United States, chancellor at the University of California, Irvine from 1962 to 1984. He also served as acting chancellor at the University of Ca ...

, Bryant Avery, Walt Butler, Ken Dennis, John Dobroth, Bill Fitzgerald, Pete Mundle, Nick Newton,

Parry O'Brien William Patrick "Parry" O'Brien (January 28, 1932 – April 21, 2007) was an American shot put champion. He competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics where he won two gold medals (1952, 1956) and one silver medal (1960). In his last Olympic c ...

(Olympian), Tom Patsalis, Paul Spangler, Art Vesco, and John Whittemore as competitors. The Los Angeles Times reported that Bill Fitzgerald set a M50 World Record in the mile at 4:37.1 and M50 American Record in the 880 yard at 2:07.2 at the meet. In June 1977 the ''

LA Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' stated, "Valley Track Club members Jerry Hackett of Canyon Country and Ernie Portillo of Canoga Park won divisions of the 880-yard run in the annual AAU District Masters Track and Field Championship. The July 1980 National Masters Newsletter issue reports that the June 1980 meet produced four new records. The Janes Elite Racing Club set a Masters American Record in the relay at the June 2018 meet.

Olympians

The July 18, 1981, meet at University of California, Los Angeles featured Olympians

John Carlos John Wesley Carlos (born June 5, 1945) is an American former track and field athlete and professional American football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he displayed the Black Power sal ...

Phil Conley Philip Ransom Conley (August 17, 1934 – March 12, 2014) was an American athlete. He competed in the men's javelin throw at the 1956 Summer Olympics. His wife was Frances K. Conley, the first official female winner of the Bay to Breakers ...

Tom Laris Thomas Constantine Laris (born June 26, 1940, in New York City, New York) is an American long-distance runner who competed in the 10,000 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He finished in 16th place. He had previously won a bronze medal i ...

, Bill Toomey,

Martha Watson Martha Rae Watson (born August 19, 1946, in Long Beach, California, United States) is a retired American track and field athlete. She qualified for four Olympics, 1964–1976 in the long jump, but also was a fast enough sprinter to be on two Uni ...

, and Herm Wyatt. Additional Olympians that have competed at the meet include

Leon Coleman Leonard "Leon" Coleman (born September 1, 1944, in Alabama) is an American hurdler who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ...

Willie Gault Willie James Gault (born September 5, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. Considered one of the f ...

Larry Hart (athlete) Lawrence Thomas Hart (born September 17, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American athlete who won the gold medal in the men's hammer throw event at the 1975 Pan American Games. He set his personal best (68.84 metres) on June 11, 1976, at a ...

Russ Hodge Russell Arden Hodge (born September 12, 1939) is an American track and field athlete, world record holder in decathlon (1966–1967), Olympic competitor from 1964, and silver medalist from the Pan American Games (1971). Track and field career ...

Steve Smith (pole vaulter) Stephen Norwood Smith (November 24, 1951 – September 23, 2020) was an American Olympic pole vaulter. He was the first person to clear the 18 foot barrier indoors. He was the number one ranked pole vaulter in the world in 1973. Athletic ...

, Larry Walker,

Amy Acuff Amelia Lyn "Amy" Acuff (born July 14, 1975) is a track and field athlete from the United States. A high jump specialist, she competed in the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games as a member of USA Track and Field. Her best Olympic perform ...

(5 time Olympian), Rosalyn Bryant Carter,

Deby LaPlante Deborah C. "Deby" LaPlante (, in second marriage Smith; born April 3, 1953) is a retired female track and field athlete from the United States, who competed in the hurdles event. She twice won a medal at the Pan American Games The Pan Amer ...

Sweezey, and Pam Page. In June 1992, Benny Brown, aged 38, competed in the Masters So Cal Track and Field Championship and won the M35 100 & 200 meter dash. In 2004 visitors (non master) Carmelita Jeter won the 100 & 200 meter races and

Khadevis Robinson Khadevis Robinson (born July 19, 1976 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American retired middle-distance runner and currently coaches both the men's and women's cross country teams along with being an assistant track coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes. ...

won the 400.

Notable Masters athletes

The SCA Championship has also seen its share of United States and World Masters Age Records, single age records, meet records, and stars during the meet, including Walt Butler,

Todd Christensen Todd Jay Christensen (August 3, 1956 – November 13, 2013) was an American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 until 1988, spending most of that time playing tight end for the Oakland / Los Angeles Ra ...

, Robert Culling, Burl Gist, Bert de Groot,

Kenny Dennis Kenny Dennis (born May 27, 1930) is a Philadelphia-born American jazz drummer. He has played on albums for Nancy Wilson, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Oscar Brown Jr., Charles Mingus, Billy Taylor, and Mal Waldron. Biography Den ...

, John Dobroth, A. Redmond Doms, Bill Fitzgerald, Arnie Gaynor, Joe Greenberg, Dave Jackson, Carol Johnston, George Ker, Gunnar Linde, Leland McPhie, Gary Miller, Herb Miller, Peter Mundle, James Oleson, Tom Patsalis, Del Pickarts, Charlie Radar, Nolan Shaheed, Larry Stuart, Jack Thatcher, Clarence Trahan, Bob Watanabe, Stan Whitley, Leo Williams, Kathy Bergen, Adreana Cano, Linda Cohn, Sue Dimarco, Shirley Kinsey, Christel Donley (Miller), Rita Hanscom, Sue McDonald, Johnnye Valien, and Janet Wilson, among others. Track Newsletter (published by Track & Field News) noted that Milan Tiff won the M30-34 TJ in 51'-11 3/4". Visitor

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

Alan Cranston Alan MacGregor Cranston (June 19, 1914 – December 31, 2000) was an American politician and journalist who served as a United States Senator from California from 1969 to 1993, and as a President of the World Federalist Association from 1949 to 1 ...

from Northern California won the M65 100 and 200 meter races at the 1980 meet.

Meet dates and locations

Meet Dates and Locations: * June 1, 1974 Sunny Hills HS, Fullerton, CA * June 7, 1975 Sunny Hills HS, Fullerton, CA * June 12, 1976 Moorpark College, Moorpark (Ventura County), CA * June 11, 1977 Cal State Univ. Northridge, Northridge (Pent. At Southwestern College), CA * June 11, 1978 Cal State Univ. Northridge, Northridge, CA * June 10, 1979 Cal State Univ. Northridge, Northridge, CA * June 7, 1980 Cal State Univ. Northridge, Northridge, CA * July 18, 1981 UCLA, Los Angeles, CA * July 10, 1982 UCLA, Los Angeles, CA * July 9, 1983 Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, CA * July 1, 1984 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 1, 1985 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 28, 1986 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 20, 1987 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 18, 1988 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 18, 1989 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 16, 1990 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 15, 1991 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 20, 1992 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 27, 1993 Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA * June 18, 1994 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * April 8, 1995 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 9, 1996 Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, CA * June 8, 1997 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * July 11, 1998 Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA * June 12, 1999 Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA * June 24, 2000 Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, CA * August 4, 2001 Long Beach City College, Long Beach (HT at Cal State Long Beach), CA * June 22, 2002 Birmingham High School, Van Nuys & Cal State Univ., Northridge, CA * June 8, 2003 Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA * June 12, 2004 Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA * June 11, 2005 West Los Angeles College, Culver City (PV at Culver City High), CA * June 17, 2006 Moorpark College, Moorpark (Ventura County), CA * June 9, 2007 Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, CA * June 14, 2008 Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA * June 6, 2009 Soka Univ., Aliso Viejo, CA * June 12, 2010 Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA * May 15, 2011 Long Beach City College (Throws: Long Beach State), CA * June 16, 2012 Cal Tech, Pasadena, CA * June 29, 2013 Cal Tech, Pasadena, CA * May 17, 2014 Cal Tech, Pasadena, CA * May 30, 2015 Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA * May 28, 2016 Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA * May 20, 2017 West Los Angeles College, Culver City, CA * June 16, 2018 West Los Angeles College, Culver City, CA * June 9, 2019 West Los Angeles College, Culver City, CA * 2020 & 2021 Cancelled * July 2, 2022 Pomona-Pitzer College, Claremont, CA * June 3, 2023 Pomona-Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

USATF Southern California Association and Region

The USATF designated Southern California Association area (USATF SCA Association) counties include:

Inyo Inyo may refer to: Places California * Inyo County, California * Inyo National Forest, USA * The Inyo Mountains * The Mono–Inyo Craters Other uses * Japanese for yin and yang Yin and yang ( and ) is a Chinese philosophy, Chinese p ...

, Los Angeles,

Mono Mono may refer to: Common meanings * Infectious mononucleosis, "the kissing disease" * Monaural, monophonic sound reproduction, often shortened to mono * Mono-, a numerical prefix representing anything single Music Performers * Mono (Japanese b ...

, Orange,

Riverside Riverside may refer to: Places Australia * Riverside, Tasmania, a suburb of Launceston, Tasmania Canada * Riverside (electoral district), in the Yukon * Riverside, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Alberta * Riverside, Manitoba, a former rural m ...

, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. The SCA office falls under the West Region ( AZ, CA, HI, NM, and NV). Association competition groups include Youth, (High School), (Collegiate), Open, Elite, Masters, and Para. USATF Southern California Association has one of the largest population bases of any USATF sub-association.

Additional Masters Track and Field Competitions

Southern California Masters Track and Field athletes have also competed at the following meets: * The

Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...

* Masters World Track and Field Championship (started 1975) * Pan Am Games (for Masters) (1977 to 1981) * USATF Masters Outdoor Championships (1968 to Present) * USATF Masters Indoor Championships (1975 to Present) * Masters West Region Track and Field Championship (1975 to Present) * Club West Masters meet (1974 to Present) * Ben Brown meet (1990s to Present) * Corona Del Mar Relays, (1970s to 1980s) * Grandfather Games (Anteater, Dan Aldrich) (1971 to 2004) * Huntsman World Senior Games (Utah) * John Ward meet (Al Siddons; Orange) (1978 to 2014) * Mt SAC Relays including Masters (1970s to Present). * Orange County Senior Games (Irvine) (1970s to 1980s) * Palm Desert Senior Games (Palm Springs) (1970s to Present). * Pasadena Senior Games (1992 to Present). * Saddleback Masters Relays (200 to 2004) * Senior Sports International Meet (LA Senior Games) (1970s to 1980s) * Southern California Indoor Meet Outdoor (2006 to Present) * Striders Meet of Champions hosted by the Southern California Striders (1975 to Present) * Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence (1988 to Present) * Trojan Masters meet (1980s to Present) Additional competitions include cross country,

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

s, road races, race walking, and Ultra.Competitions

Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020

References

{{Reflist

External links

SCA USATF websiteUSATF websiteUSATF Masters websiteWorld Masters Athletics (WMA)Masters SCA results and recordsNational Masters NewsWorld Masters Track and Field Rankings

North and Central America and Caribbean Region of World Masters Athletics (NCCMA)Southern California StridersClub West track club

Masters Track and Field History

List of USA Masters Track and Field Records

USMITT NewsletterSan Fernando Valley Track Club Newsletters (SFVTC)
Masters athletics (track and field) competitions Track and field competitions in California Annual track and field meetings Recurring sporting events established in 1974 1974 establishments in California