Three Area Track and Field Invitationals Set for Saturday

Saturday will be a good day for fans of Orange County high school track and field. The area will offer three competitions, all involving several top athletes from within and around the county.

The largest is the Valencia Invitational, which is in its eighth year at Valencia High School. The co-ed meet will feature 3,000 athletes from 37 schools around the state. Teams include track and field power Los Angeles Morningside, Walnut, Barstow, Coachella Valley and Pasadena Poly. Area teams include Villa Park, Katella and Valencia.

The 29th Tustin Relays, the oldest relay meet in the county, will play host to 26 boys’ teams and 17 girls’ teams from around Southern California.

Teams include Canyon, Westminster, Mater Dei, Irvine and Fountain Valley as well as out-of-county powers Ventura, San Diego Santee, Saugus and West Torrance.

Top individuals include Fountain Valley’s Derek Teuscher in the sprints, Brea-Olinda’s Brent Jones in the distance events and Saugus’ Damien Jenkins in the discus throw.

Canyon multi-event star Allison Franke and distance standouts Lynne Hagen of Mater Dei and Barbara Kozlowski of Irvine top the girls’ entrants.

The Orange County Boys’ Track and Field Championships, in its 19th year, will begin at 9 a.m. at Mission Viejo High School. The meet features 500 boys from 30 county teams.

Farther south, the Mt. Carmel Invitational at Poway High School will feature several top Orange County athletes, including Edison’s Kaleaph Carter, the nation’s leading shotputter, and David Noel, the state’s leading pole vaulter. Corona del Mar distance stars Eddie Lavelle and Jim Robbins also will compete.