The Perfect Weekend Lost…
The beautiful weekend that should have celebrated the Mt. SAC Relays return to “new” Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
(Walnut, CA) The third weekend of April traditionally brings thousands of athletes, coaches and fans to the City of Walnut for the world renown Mt. SAC Relays (originally scheduled for April 16th, 17th and 18th). Even with perfect weather, green hills, snowcapped mountains and a new facility, this year’s event like many others, has succumbed to the Covid-19 Pandemic. It will be the first Mt. SAC Relays to be cancelled in it's 62 year history.
2020 was to be the celebrated return of the Mt. SAC Relays to the new ready and waiting "state-of-the-art" Hilmer Lodge Stadium (CLICK to view photo gallery), after four years of construction put the event "on the road." The anticipation of the new stadium along with the traditionally perfect Southern California weather, would have welcomed hundreds of elite athletes, from throughout the world, looking to produce qualifying marks and prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
2020 was also hoping to be a repeat of record breaking events that occured 60 years ago. In 1960, in preparation for the Rome Olympic Games, members of the U.S. Olympic Team, using Mt. SAC as a training site, set an incredible six world records in one evening competition at Historic Hilmer Lodge Stadium (CLICK to view LA Times Article) (NOTE: 7 total world records in that one day at Hilmer Lodge Stadium).
Through the years, numerous competitions have come and gone, however the Mt. SAC Relays, with its athlete centered service approach, has withstood the test of time. The Mt. SAC Relays will continue to meet and exceed the needs of those involved in the sport of track & field, just as it has for over 6 decades.
The Mt. SAC Relays looks forward to 2021, when we will finally celebrate the opening of the new Hilmer Lodge Stadium to honor the history and legacy of the Mt. SAC Relays and Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
For more information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909-274-4630.