Old school track and field is back in Southern California.
Well, at least that’s what UCLA track and field is trying
to do with the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational held
at Drake Stadium today and Saturday.
One of several goals of the RJ/JJK meet is to continue the
tradition the two Olympians created three years ago, bringing
world-class competition back to Westwood.
The meet will be highlighted by numerous Olympians and gold
medalists, including hurdlers Felix Sanchez and Joanna Hayes, as
well as new sprinting darling Alyson Felix.
But the RJ/JJK meet is also attempting to revive the vintage
feel of the sport ““ short, entertaining and fast-paced.
“We look at it like the “˜field of dreams’: If
we build it, they will come,” meet director and UCLA distance
coach Eric Peterson said. “We felt an invitational reserved
for high-level athletes in an afternoon that lasts no more than
three-and-a-half hours is really something that the sport
needs.”
Peterson said he thought the sport needed something of this
caliber with a quick afternoon format in order to attract fans,
especially in Southern California, where traditional track and
field support has waned in recent years.
“We want to build our own identity,” Peterson said.
“We would like to establish this as a meet to come to in
America, no matter what.”
Only now, RJ/JJK has to compete against another established
meet.
This year, the world-renowned Texas Relays are being held in
Austin on the same weekend. While the competing times of the two
meets appeared at first to be a cause for concern, UCLA held strong
to its plan.
“The Texas Relays went against us, but we didn’t
budge,” UCLA men’s coach Art Venegas said. “We
are letting the world know the Rafer Johnson meet will be this
weekend in the schedule, the world be damned. (The Texas Relays) do
whatever you’re going to do and we’re still going to be
on.”
The scheduling of the meet, according to its coordinators, was
intended to attract mainly the West Coast schools and individual
athletes. Their method worked for Brigham Young and Arizona, who
are both bringing full squads. The Stanford men’s team, among
others, will also be competing this year.
Fortunately for the RJ/JJK Invitational, the Texas Relays will
go back to the first week in April next year, allowing for
UCLA’s meet to attract more schools from across the country
such as Florida, Georgetown and Tennessee, Venegas said. The
presence of Illinois this weekend could be the start of that
trend.
“That’s our hope,” Peterson said.
“(National schools) are going to see performances from an
Illinois team to attract them. Our hope is that it’s really
going to grow.”
The presence of top athletes such as Felix, Sanchez and Hayes
has already bolstered the prominence of the meet.
“The type of people that came last year and will compete
this year show you where this is going,” Peterson said.
“This venue is really special ““ the environment is as
good as anywhere in the country. … (The fact that) they are
coming to this campus is evidence we are on to
something.”