Veteran Gray Is Returning to the Scene of His Prime

Johnny Gray and the Los Angeles Invitational Indoor track meet hit the big four-oh this year, in varying degrees of wear and tear.

The Invitational, which debuted in 1960 and played to full houses in its early years, finds itself all but alone as its approaches middle age--long since abandoned by its title sponsor, more recently by the U.S. track federation, which dropped the event from its Golden Spike tour this year, and by many big-name athletes who would rather run and jump elsewhere for bigger paychecks.

Thus, expectations for today’s 40th Invitational at the Sports Arena--which begins at 11:30 a.m. for high school athletes, with elite competition starting at 6:15 p.m.--have been ratcheted down. Promoters Al and Don Franken are hoping to put on a nice show for the high school kids and their parents--and maybe fill half of the arena.

Gray, one of the Invitational’s last remaining loyalists, will run the 800 meters tonight, same as he has done since 1979. On paper, it would seem like just a kind gesture by an old friend--Gray turns 40 in June--but in Gray’s mind, this event is a useful step toward a spot on the U.S. 2000 Olympics team.

That’s right--Gray is bidding to participate in his fifth Olympics, which would be a first for a male American track athlete.

“I think my chances are great,” says Gray, who won the 800-meter gold medal at last year’s Pan American Games and is 3-0 this indoor season. “I’m excited about it.

“Last year, despite a serious case of tendinitis, I came in fourth at the nationals, without much training beforehand. I was only fourth by a step or so--and I was nowhere near my best.

“This year, I will be at my best. Deep down inside, I believe that with my experience, there is no half-miler in the country who can prevent me from making the Olympic team. And I definitely don’t see three.”

Gray’s goal is to finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic trials this summer at Sacramento and earn an expenses-paid trip to Sydney in September.

“Five Olympics,” Gray says, marveling at the very idea. “Believe me, it’s something I didn’t plan. Five times four is 20. That’s 20 years of competition at an elite level.”

Along the way, Gray has lost a step or two, but considers that an acceptable trade-off for the perspective he has gained. It is a big-picture view of the sport that helps explain why he continues to run in the L.A. Invitational while so many others have run away.

“The younger guys call me ‘the old man,’ and I guess I think like an old man,” Gray says. “I remember the gestures and good deeds that were done for me when I was younger. I have an appreciation for those things that were done for me. I feel now it’s time for me to show my appreciation. . . .

“The Franken meet has been good to me. The meet helped make me the athlete I am today, because early in my career, it gave me good international competition when I couldn’t afford to travel and couldn’t get it elsewhere. The meet helped me become a world-class athlete.”

Besides Gray, other athletes expected to compete in the elite portion of the meet are:

* Bernard Lagat of Kenya, ranked fourth in the world in the mile, ran a 3:56.48 at an indoor meet last weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.

* Pole vaulter Lawrence Johnson, a former American record holder and 1996 Olympian, who recently cleared 18 feet 8 1/4 inches at the Millrose Games in New York.

* Sprinter Tyree Washington, a 400-meter silver medalist at the 1997 World Championships, who will run 500 meters tonight.

* USC football standout Kareem Kelly, running in the 50-meter sprint.

* High jumper Amy Acuff, bidding to participate in her second Summer Olympics.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

L.A. Invitational Track Meet

* When--Today

* Where--Sports Arena

* When--High school competition: first event at 11:30 a.m.; last event at 6 p.m. Elite competition: first field event (women’s pole vault) at 4:30 p.m.; first track event (men’s 50-meter hurdles) at 6:15 p.m.; last event at 8:45 p.m.

* Ticket prices--Reserved, $23; General admission, $10.