The San Diego Mesa College track and field program hosted the annual Arnie Robinson Invitational on Friday. The two-day event not only honors the legendary Olympic gold medalist, but also serves as a preview for the upcoming PCAC Preliminaries on April 19 and the CCCAA SoCal Regionals on Friday, May 5 which will be held at Mesa College. 

Arnie Robinson graduated from San Diego Mesa College before transferring to San Diego State University. A product of Morse High School, Robinson put himself on the map after winning the 1970 NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the long jump.  In 1972 and 1976, Robinson won the Olympic Trials in the long jump, placing 3rd at the 1972 Olympics and then grabbing gold at the 1976 games. Robinson won seven national long jump titles, six of them being outdoors. In 1979, Robinson returned to Mesa College and dedicated his life and resources to helping track and field grow in San Diego. He spent more than $35,000 of his own money on track and field equipment to be used by youth athletics.

Both the men’s and women’s team have had a busy schedule having participated at the Ben Brown Invitational, Oxy Distance Carnival Spring Break Classic, and most recently, the Mark Conover Classic at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The coaching staff continue to fine- tune the athletes heading into the second half of the season. According to head coach Sean Ricketts, “the athletes are developing and progressing. We continue to focus on the team and build towards our best performances at the end of the season.”

Highlights from the Arnie Robinson Invitational 

Presley Bennett 10K 39:37.40 State A, #3 State, #5 All Time

Phoebe Araujo 400H 68.32, State B, #8 State

Kyana Cook 5K 18:45.63,  State A

Women's 4x4 (Tonne, Araujo, Fitzgerald, Garcia) 4:08.23 State A, #5 State

Cemara Collins Shot Put 11.3m  37'1 State B, #9 State

Kaela Estrada Javelin 34.23m  112'4  State A, #5 State

Jasper Kadlec Javelin 57.77m 189'6 #1 State, State A   #4 All Time

Jake Beckwith 800m 1:54.45  #2 State, State A

Devyn Berrera Pole Vault 4.40m 14'5.25, State A, #10 State

Cesar Salazar Shot Put 15.34m 50'4, State A #3 State

Juan Rosales 10K  31:30.68  State A, #9 State, #9 All Time

David Millan  1500m 3:54.69  #4 State, State A

Bryce Kueker  1500m 3:55.06  #5 State, State A

Jude Giolitto  5K 15:12.54  State A

Harrison Hansen 400H 55.36, State B, #8 State