World spotlight shines on Mt. SAC at USATF Golden Games

WALNUT - Hilmer Lodge Stadium, on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), shined brightly on national television (NBC) as the host of the 2021 USA Track & Field Golden Games at Mt. SAC last weekend.  The combination of the beautiful new state-of-the-art stadium, favorable weather conditions, fast track surface and incredible field of athletes, added another significant chapter in the storied history of the stadium.  The spectatorless competition (LA County CoVID-19 regulations) produced 15 stadium records, 4 world leading marks and numerous personal bests.  Along with these incredible statistics, the USATF Golden Games at Mt. SAC also produced top 5 world marks (2021) in 20 of the 24 events contested.   

Due to football superstar/wide receiver DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks entering the competition, the men's 100 meters was one of the most anticipated events of the day.  Metcalf ran an impressive 10.37 seconds to finish 15th overall (two preliminary heats combined).  In a bit of Mt. SAC irony, Metcalf's preliminary heat was won by former CCCAA State Champion Cravon Gillespie (Mt. SAC, 2X CCCAA Individual Champion) at 10.11 (CLICK HERE to see NBC race video and interview).  Gillespie (USA) later ran 9.96 (w +1.9 m/s), in the final, to take the win over an impressive field that included his former Mountie teammate Kyrie King (Mt. SAC, 2X CCCAA 4X100M Champion)  who took 5th at 10.04.  King (USA) ran a legal 9.97 (w +1.9 m/s) a month earlier, which places the two former teammates in the #5 and #6 positions on the 2021 men's 100 meters world marks list.

Former California Community College track stars Jordin Andrade (Mt. SAC, CCCAA State Champion), Anthony Applequist (Mt. SAC) and Ameer Webb (Cerritos, 3X CCCAA Individual Champion) also competed in the elite competition.  Applequist (USA) took 7th in the men's triple jump with a mark of 53'05" (16.28, w 0.7 m/s) and Andrade (Cape Verde), took 9th in the men's 400 hurdles with a seasons best time of 51.17.  Webb (USA), one of the most celebrated sprinters in CCCAA history, placed 8^th in the Men’s 200M A Final with a time of 21.94, a US Olympic Trials qualifying time.  

Former CCCAA State Champion and current Mt. SAC Women's Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach Giovanni Lanaro was on hand to help direct the competition, but also witnessed his stadium record finally eclipsed, after 14 years, by 3-time NCAA D1 Champion Chris Nilsen (USA).  Nilsen jumped 19'04"1/2, the number one mark in the world this year, to claim the stadium record from the 2-time Mexican Olympian and record holder. 

Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track & field Olympian in history (six gold, three silver medals), nearly celebrated Mother's Day with another Mt. SAC win in the women's 200 meters.  Felix, whose association with Mt. SAC has spanned over 20 years, took second with a time of 22.26.  Her first Mt. SAC win came in 2002, running for L.A. Baptist, in the high school girls 200 meters.  Felix's latest win at Mt. SAC, 19 years later, came at the Inspiration Games 150 meters, held in July of 2020.  

Through the years, Hilmer Lodge Stadium has hosted many of the greatest track & field athletes in the history.  The USATF Golden Games at Mt. SAC witnessed many incredible performances including 15 new stadium records.  Below is a list of stadium records broken and the names of the historic former record holders, nearly all of which are Olympians.

(Mt. SAC Athletics)