Walnut is a city in the eastern part of Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 29,172, and in 2019 the population was estimated at 29,685.
Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically 4–12 kilometres (2.5–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road and minor obstacles. It is both an individual and a team sport; runners are judged on individual times and teams by a points-scoring method. Both men and women of all ages compete in cross country, which usually takes place during autumn and winter, and can include weather conditions of rain, sleet, snow or hail, and a wide range of temperatures.
Mt. San Antonio College is a public community college in southern California, located in Walnut in eastern Los Angeles County. It offers more than 260 degree and certificate programs, 25 support programs, and more than 50 student clubs and athletic programs, including counseling and tutoring. The college offers associate degrees, career education, community recreation courses, ESL, adult education, and youth summer programs.
Hayward Field is a track and field stadium in the northwest United States, located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. It has been the home of the university's track and field teams since 1921, and was the on-campus home of the varsity football team from 1919 through 1966. Track and field competitions at the stadium are organized by the not-for-profit organization TrackTown USA.
Payton Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 United States Olympic track and field team, one of the most powerful track teams ever assembled, which won a record twenty-four medals, including twelve golds. He was born in Whittier, California. Jordan was exceedingly successful as a collegiate track coach for a decade at Occidental College and for 23 years at Stanford University. A star three-sport athlete in his youth, Jordan more recently became one of the most dominant track athletes of all time, as a sprinter, in senior divisions. Jordan died of cancer at his home in Laguna Hills, California on February 5, 2009.
Barbara Ann Ferrell, Mrs. Edmonson is an American former track and field athlete who competed mainly in the 100-metre dash. She was the U.S. national champion in that event in 1967 and 1969 and is a member of the U.S. National Track & Field Hall of Fame.
Giovanni Alessandro Lanaro Mercado is a Mexican former pole vaulter who is currently the Women's Head Coach at his alma mater, Mt. San Antonio College.
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The Relays are held in mid-April each year since the first edition held on April 24-25, 1959. The meet was started by Mt. San Antonio College track coach Hilmer Lodge, and flourished under his direction until his retirement in 1963. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of the sport of Track and Field. They claim to have had as many as 9,000 competitors participate in a single year. Because of the stature of the meet, the stadium and most meet literature contains the phrase "Where the world's best athletes compete".
Joseph Patrick Faust is an American track and field athlete known for the high jump. He extended his personal jumping flight interests into mathematics and aviation.
Michael Arthur Norman Jr. is an American sprinter. He holds the world best time in the indoor 400 meters at 44.52 seconds. Outdoors, his 43.45, set at the 2019 Mt. SAC Relays is tied as the #4 on the all time list. In 2016, he became the world junior champion in both the 200 meters and 4×100 meter relay. In 2022, he became the world champion in both the 400 meters and 4x400 meter relay.
Kate Grace is an American middle distance runner. A multiple All-American runner for Yale University, she turned professional in 2011. Grace competed for the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, making it to the final of the 800 metres.
Jessica McClain is an American middle-distance and long-distance runner. As a Stanford Cardinal, Jess was a seven-time NCAA Division 1 All-American cross country and Track and field runner.
Jordin Jae Andrade is a track and field hurdler representing Cape Verde at the Olympics in 2016 and 2020 and World Championships in 2017. He specializes in the 400-meter hurdles. He was a silver medalist in the event at 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The men's 1968 United States Olympic trials for track and field were a two-tiered event. Athletes first met for semi-final Olympic trials in Los Angeles, from June 29 to 30. The final trials were held following a training camp at a specially constructed track at Echo Summit, California, between September 6–16. This was called the most bizarre location for an Olympic trials ever, selected to mimic the nearly identical high altitude location for the Olympics in Mexico City in October.
The 1980 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place between June 14–15 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. The 20K racewalk was held April 20 in Redmond, Washington. The decathlon was held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon on June 22–23. This was the first time the meet was organized by the newly formed organization The Athletics Congress (TAC).
The 1979 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place between June 16–17 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. The decathlon took place on June 3–4. This was the last time the meet was organized by the AAU. Their status as the national governing body was terminated at the end of the year as a result of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. They were replaced by the newly formed organization The Athletics Congress, hosting the meet at this same location.
The 2020 United States Olympic trials for track and field were staged in Eugene, Oregon, after an initial bid for Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California failed. This was first major event for the redesigned and rebuilt Hayward Field.
Kaela Edwarads is an American middle-distance runner.
Rachel McCoy is an American athlete who competes in the high jump.
Cooper Teare is an American distance runner who races events such as the 1500m and 5000m. A runner at University of Oregon, he won the 5000m in 13:12.27 at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This time was a school record, championship record, olympic standard qualifying time, and the fastest performance ever by an American collegiate runner. Teare also was a part of a team that won the distance medley relay at the 2021 NCAA Division I Indoor Track Championships to help lead Oregon to a national team title. In addition, Teare is the collegiate record holder in both the indoor mile and distance medley relay. Teare finished 10th in the 1500m and 5000m at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.
