The Long Beach State track and field team has a busy weekend ahead as eight of its athletes are scheduled to compete in the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday (April 17), while the 49ers will also play host to the Beach Invitational on Saturday, April 18.

49ers Set to Host VS Athletics Beach Invitational

LBSU’s lone home meet will be held at Cerritos College in Norwalk. The first-rate facility is a 9-lane Mondo track and has separate men’s and women’s long/triple jump pits. All throwing events will take place on the grass outfield.

The Beach Invitational is one of the premier West Coast collegiate meets of 2009 with 52 universities and colleges slated to make an appearance, including nationally-ranked USC, UCLA, Michigan and Washington State. Thirty-one club teams will also take part in Saturday’s festivities. In all, 1,324 athletes from 22 states and three Canadian institutions will be competing.

The competition will get underway with the women’s javelin throw at 8:30 a.m., and the track events are set to kick off at 10 a.m. with the women’s 3000m steeplechase. Distinctive awards will be given to the individual champions and relay teams in each event. The meet is a `Gold Game’ for the LBSU track and field team, and all 49er students with valid ID will be admitted for free.

Up Next

The 49ers have another busy schedule next week as they prepare for two meets. The Beach will have a split squad with one group traveling to Des Moines, Iowa, for the 100th annual Drake Relays, April 23-25. Another LBSU contingent will make the trip south for the UCSD Triton Invitational (April 24-25).

From LBSU reports