Van Nuys : Track Meet Welcomes All Levels of Ability

More than 1,000 high school students will sprint, shotput, pole vault and hurdle through the 16th annual Greater San Fernando Valley Invitational Track Meet today at Birmingham High School.

The daylong meet, sponsored by the Van Nuys Rotary Club, is open to athletes of every ability, explained coordinator Guy Mangia. It is designed to give average and junior varsity athletes a chance to compete and win in the events they love. Students from 20 high schools, including Alemany, Birmingham, Chaminade, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Monroe, North Hollywood, Reseda and Taft, will compete in 29 events.

With winners in every heat, there will be many medals to take home. “For many of the students, it’s a chance to win for the first time,” said Judi Rose of the Rotary.

The meet will be officiated by USA Track & Field officials. “I think it’s an exciting thing to see the kids run the races and jump the hurdles,” said Mangia, who has been involved in eight of the meets in some capacity. “They really get excited about what they’re doing, and it’s fun to cheer them on.”

The meet is free and open to the public. Events begin at 9 a.m. and last past 5 p.m. at Birmingham, 17000 Haynes St., Van Nuys.