Rain Moves Arcadia Meet Against O.C. Championships

The Arcadia Invitational was postponed Saturday because of rain. It has been rescheduled for April 25, the same day as the Orange County Championships at Trabuco Hills.

Al Britt, Esperanza track and field coach and meet director for the Orange County Championships, says he expects some of the county’s elite athletes to compete at Arcadia, which draws a more competitive field from throughout California.

“Obviously that is who will go [to Arcadia],” Britt said. “If you were a leading mark and felt there was no competition in the county, you would do that.”

Fred Almond, who coaches the top-ranked Mission Viejo girls’ team and is also a meet director for the Orange County Championships, wants his entire squad at Trabuco Hills. He said each athlete will make the decision. If Mission Viejo has to split its squad, its chances for a team title at the Orange County Championships would be considerably weakened.

“Those who want to vie for a county championship will do that, and those who want to go Arcadia will do that,” Almond said. “I want all my girls [at Trabuco Hills], but whether they will, I don’t know.”

The Orange County Championships are during the day and the Arcadia Invitational running events are at night, but a Southern Section rule doesn’t allow athletes to compete in two meets on the same day.