Nov. 16, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
2012 AZTEC INVITATIONAL INFO | SCHEDULE | MULTI'S SCHEDULE
UPDATED on Feb. 2, 2012: Updated info above under "Aztec Invitational Info" and "Schedule" includes a slight change in Friday's meet schedule.
UPDATED on Jan. 19, 2012: Updated info above under "Aztec Invitational Info" provides clarification on how individual/unattached entries can be moved into the invitational section and it clarifies that teams/athletes must bring their own throwing implements.
San Diego State head coach Shelia Burrell has announced the schedule and participating teams for the 34th annual Aztec Track and Field Invitational. The three-day meet will take place from March 15-17, 2012 at SDSU's Aztrack Sports Deck and will once again feature some of the top collegiate teams and athletes in the country.
Like last year, the Aztec Invitational will include open, invitational and high school sections. The meet will kick off Thursday, March 15 with the first day of the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon. On Friday, the hammer throw will be held on the UC San Diego campus in nearby La Jolla, while the open sections and the final day of the multi-events will take place at SDSU. The invitational and high school sections will wrap up the annual meet on Saturday.
Numerous teams are scheduled to compete in the 2012 Aztec Invitational, including Brigham Young, Hawai'i, Minnesota, UCLA, UNLV and Texas, among others. Additionally, many of the area's universities, junior colleges and high schools are expected to join the competition.
"Our objective is for this meet to be an athlete and coach friendly season opener with quality competition," Burrell said. "Last year, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Wisconsin and several of the returning teams for this year's invite produced national leading marks in multiple events."
Being an Olympic year, Burrell anticipates several London 2012 hopefuls preparing for the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in the summer to register for the meet.
"In 2011, Lashinda Demus won the 100 hurdles and ran a blistering 800 at the Aztec Invitational," Burrell said. "She then went on to win the 400 hurdles at the U.S. and World Championships this past summer. Heptathlete Betty Wade competed in our 100 hurdles and won the long jump. She went on to win the (heptathlon) at the Thorpe Cup over the summer. Both women are top contenders for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team."
For the 34th Aztec Invitational, San Diego State has partnered with the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center to host participating teams.
"This is something the (Chula Vista) Olympic Training Center and SDSU is very excited about," Burrell said. "I am privileged to extend an invitation to teams using our meet as a spring break trip to train and dine at the OTC in the days leading up to the meet.
"This is a great way to kick off what promises to be a very spirited track and field season - not just for San Diego State, but for the entire sport. Nobody can match our weather and our proximity to the U.S. Olympic Training Center. As the track and field community gets ready for London in 2012, it's a huge draw."
Click in the PDF links for meet info and schedules.