Discus Leads Off Arcadia Invitational Meet

The boys’ discus competition, although it’s held off to the side, figures to be one of the center-stage events tonight in the 20th annual Arcadia Invitational, probably the West’s best regular-season high school meet.

Field events, other than the discus, will begin at 5:30, opening ceremonies are set for 6:20 p.m., and running events for 6:40.

The discus, scheduled for 4 p.m., will focus on Kamy Keshmiri of Reno, Nev., the national record-holder with a throw of 214 feet 11 inches, and Dwight Johnson of Tempe, Ariz., with a best of 204-9, making this the first match of two high school athletes who have thrown 204 or better.

Other standouts include Quincy Watts of Woodland Hills Taft in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 400- and 1,600-meter relays, and Madette Smith of Quartz Hill in the girls’ long jump. Janeene Vickers of Pomona, who was scheduled to run the 200, 400, 100 low hurdles and anchor the 400-meter relay, has a groin injury and will not compete. The Hawthorne boys’ relay teams, with the top times in the state in both relays, have also dropped out.

Although the main competition will be held in the evening, there will also be an early session, from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., to allow more athletes a chance to compete. The stands will be cleared for an hour after that.

Guard Scott Yates of Inglewood and forward Ricky Butler of Huntington Beach Ocean View will play in the second game of the two-game Joint Effort all-star basketball series today in Denver.