L.A. Invitational Takes Big Hit

The L.A. Invitational indoor track meet, which has struggled for respectability and survival since losing its corporate backing in 1995, is on the verge of extinction after a decision by the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles to discontinue its $20,000 sponsorship of the high school portion of the event.

Although longtime promoter Al Franken said he’s proceeding with plans to hold next year’s meet Feb. 23 at the Sports Arena, he acknowledged the lack of financial support and uncertain business climate are jeopardizing his efforts.

“Right now, we don’t have anything in the bank,” said Franken, who has largely funded the meet himself the past few years and incurred what he called modest losses.

“We’ve contacted lots of people and there seems to be some interest.... We do have a good record. Forty-two years legitimizes the thing. We think it’s worth keeping and we want to fight real hard. We hope the AAF will reconsider.”

By Franken’s count, 104 Olympic gold medalists have competed in the meet. Many athletes have accepted token appearance fees in recent years in deference to the tight budget and out of loyalty to Franken and his son and co-promoter, Don, fervent supporters of track and field. However, the elder Franken said he needs at least $50,000 to open the doors for the event--the amount one Olympic gold medalist can command at a well-funded meet.

Don Franken said he most feared the possible demise of the high school meet, which draws 2,000 athletes from 500 schools, most of them in Southern California.

“We feel we’re what the AAF wants,” he said. “We have a lot of inner-city kids. Our stars are from the inner city. We don’t understand why that wouldn’t fit into their mission.”

Anita DeFrantz, president of the AAFLA’s board of directors, said the organization ended its financial support because it did not get the return it envisioned for its investment. The AAFLA was founded with proceeds from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, with a mission to serve Southern California youth by making grants to youth sports organizations and conducting its own youth sports and coaching programs.

“The four times in the past that we supported it, it seemed like an opportunity for kids to be out there with elite runners. That’s no longer the case,” DeFrantz said. “This year, it did not seem a priority.

“Over the years, it has changed from being a meet where high school youngsters could run on the same track with elite runners. Our basic philosophy at the Amateur Athletic Foundation is a one-day event is not as high a priority as an event that might be longer and have a longer-lasting effect on more kids.... We do support track and field, and this event did not produce what we had hoped.”

Although local track fans and high school coaches have been lobbying DeFrantz to reverse the decision, she indicated it was final.