Lack of Sponsor May Mean End of Jenner Track Meet

The Bruce Jenner Classic in San Jose, one of two Mobil Grand Prix track and field meets in the United States, might be canceled this year for lack of a sponsor.

But sources close to the International Amateur Athletic Federation, which governs the sport, said that the void in the schedule could be filled by another meet, possibly the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore.

“We hate to lose any meet,” one said, “but, in terms of the athletes and the sport in the United States, they will be taken care of.”

The Jenner, a fixture since the 16-meet, 11-country Grand Prix circuit began in 1985, is scheduled for May 27, six days after the other U.S. meet in the series, the New York Games.

But athletes and their representatives said they have been told by the meet’s director, Bert Bonanno, that no title sponsor has been signed to underwrite the $250,000-$300,000 budget.

Sources said that USA Track & Field, which governs the sport in the United States, was unable to contribute because of money lost on meets during this winter’s indoor season.

Bonanno, sources said, will try to recruit a sponsor until Friday, when he will decide the meet’s immediate future.

He did not return calls to his office Wednesday.

With network television exposure and funding from Nike, the June 4 Prefontaine Classic already was anticipated to be the best outdoor meet in the United States this year before the June 14-18 national championships in Sacramento.

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of distance runner Steve Prefontaine’s death in an automobile accident, the meet has tentative commitments from long jumper Jackie Joyner-Kersee, sprinter Michael Johnson and Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergei Bubka.