Dear Coach,
*** Please pass this email to the new coach or school athletic director if you are not the present CC COACH!
We are back and looking forward to another exciting Bellarmine Invitational set for Saturday September 28th, 2024 at Park Central in Griffith Park. We will continue to provide outstanding spectator viewing of the event, and just as challenging course with a grass start and finish, along with hills and flats.
Park Central in Griffith Park is located in the ‘Old Zoo’ area, where we actually held our 2007 Invitational because the fire restricted us from running the Invitational at the Greek Area. This venue offers plenty of parking and space for your team camps, with a 1 mile and 2-mile spectator friendly for splits. Please check between now and September 28thfor the latest updates, news and announcements along with Divisions and time schedules. All entries are still being excepted on Athletic.net. Entry deadlines will be on September 20th, so I suggest that you get your entries in ASAP as we are limited to the number of teams.
Thank you for your continued support!
Jim Couch
Meet Director
Leonard Diaz
Co-Meet Director
*** Please pass this email to the new coach or school athletic director if you are not the present CC COACH!
We are back and looking forward to another exciting Bellarmine Invitational set for Saturday September 28th, 2024 at Park Central in Griffith Park. We will continue to provide outstanding spectator viewing of the event, and just as challenging course with a grass start and finish, along with hills and flats.
Park Central in Griffith Park is located in the ‘Old Zoo’ area, where we actually held our 2007 Invitational because the fire restricted us from running the Invitational at the Greek Area. This venue offers plenty of parking and space for your team camps, with a 1 mile and 2-mile spectator friendly for splits. Please check between now and September 28thfor the latest updates, news and announcements along with Divisions and time schedules. All entries are still being excepted on Athletic.net. Entry deadlines will be on September 20th, so I suggest that you get your entries in ASAP as we are limited to the number of teams.
Thank you for your continued support!
Jim Couch
Meet Director
Leonard Diaz
Co-Meet Director
JOIN THE FIGHT
Each year many children/adults get diagnosed with many forms of cancer, in the last few years the Bellarmine and Sacred Heart Family has been directly affected by cancer, from athlete to coach, parents, alumni as well as a faculty member. In 2021 our top runner was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma towards the end of her cross-country season, she underwent 6 months of treatment all while continuing to participate in basketball and track, being involved in sports made a positive impact on her outcome. This year the Bellarmine/Sacred Heart Invitational will be joining the American Cancer Society California Interscholastic Federation Youth Sports honoring cancer survivors and helping spread the word about reducing cancer risk. The Bellarmine/Sacred Heart Invitational would like your help in raising these funds to help the American Cancer Society save lives.
Please log onto the link below then click on 'Donate' and type in our Team Name:
2023 Bellarmine/Sacred Heart Invitational
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=106758
Please log onto the link below then click on 'Donate' and type in our Team Name:
2023 Bellarmine/Sacred Heart Invitational
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=106758
By Rich Gonzalez
Editor, PrepCalTrack.com
(LOS ANGELES, Calif) — Southern Section and Los Angeles City Section schools migrated to popular Griffith Park to participate in the tradition-steeped Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Invitational!
A new course along the zoo side/merry-go-round side of the park took a toll on times, but the leading runners and teams still emerged.
Cathedral (boys) and Palisades (girls) finished as the top team performers while Cathedral's Emmanuel Hernandez and San Marino's Kayla Giddings finished with the top times of the meet in their respective genders.
Full results are linked here: MeetResults.net
Check out Jimmy Su's meet album below! Also, be sure to check JimmySuPhoto.com in the days to come for even more photos!
Athlete Registration is NOW Open!
Team Registration Will Close (9/24/23)!
Teams by Division Will Be UPDATED (9/24/23)!
Team Registration Will Close (9/24/23)!
Teams by Division Will Be UPDATED (9/24/23)!
Former LA Councilman Tom LaBonge
On January 7th 2020 the Bellarmine/Sacred Heart family lost one of its family members, Tom Labonge. Former Councilman Tom LaBonge was a Champion and supporter of our event for the last 20 years, he was one of our official starter for the Doug Speck Boys Seeded Race. While in office Tom help financially support the longest High School Cross-Country Invitational in the City of LA, but Tom was beyond the financial support, he would come every year to speak to the athletes and spectators letting them know the importance of being student athletes, he would even come help clean up after our event had concluded, it was truly evident on how much he loved the students of LA and how much Griffith Park meant to him. He will be greatly missed by the staff and coaches of the Bellarmine/Sacred Invitational. May you Rest In Peace 'Mr. Los Angeles'
On behalf of Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Cross-Country Invitational, We would like to thank Nithya Raman, District 4, Council member For her civic leadership and support of this athletic event which has operated since 1973 in the hills of Griffith Park. |
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The Bell-Jeff Invitational is an eponymous annual cross country event hosted by Sacred Heart High School in Griffith Park. Since 1973 this event has become a Southern California institution. Starting early in the morning on the last Saturday in September, the series of races throughout the day play host to over a hundred different high school cross country teams from across the CIF Southern Section, as well as other sections of the state.
The event claims to be the longest continuous running event in Griffith Park. It was started by Bellarmine -Jefferson coach Jim Couch who remains the meet director. Over the years, the late famed runner and coach Laszlo Tabori helped with the event. Over 3,000 runners participate each year in multiple races. In 2011, the Bell-Jeff Open Race was the start of an Open division race, taking off first thing in the morning. That open race is now part of the Southern California USATF Cross Country Grand Prix, attracting adults, coaches, and family members to continue in the sport. The start line for the race is named for Paul Suzuki, a long time USATF Official and starter for the race, who was killed in a fatal shot put accident at the 2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
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The boy's course record of 14:10 was set by Richard Erbes of Glendale High School in 1985. It was tied in 2011 by Bryan Guijarro of Pete Knight High School in 2011. The girl's course record of 16:31 was set in 2000 by Natalie Stein from North Hollywood High School in 2000. We also take pride in honoring Doug Speck, a giant in our sport who passed away several years ago by naming the boys' seeded race in his honor. I want to thank each of you for many years of loyalty to our meet. We hope that our event met your and your athletes' expectations and continues to serve as an integral part of your teams' development for the season.
This year's event will be co-sponsored by Sacred Heart of Jesus HS. You can now begin to make your commitment to the 51st Annual Bell-Jeff Invitational. We invite your team to participate in our invitational, and we would like to continue providing optimum racing conditions and accommodate additional team entries. The meet will continue to take place at Griffith Park on Saturday, September 28 (first race at 7:40 am).
Open 5k Run
On Saturday, September 28, 2024, there will be an Open 5k Race added to the 51st Annual Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Invitational. This race is open to all non-high school athletes, alumni runners, coaches, kids, and parents who want to take a crack at the Bellarmine course.
This year's event will be co-sponsored by Sacred Heart of Jesus HS. You can now begin to make your commitment to the 51st Annual Bell-Jeff Invitational. We invite your team to participate in our invitational, and we would like to continue providing optimum racing conditions and accommodate additional team entries. The meet will continue to take place at Griffith Park on Saturday, September 28 (first race at 7:40 am).
Open 5k Run
On Saturday, September 28, 2024, there will be an Open 5k Race added to the 51st Annual Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Invitational. This race is open to all non-high school athletes, alumni runners, coaches, kids, and parents who want to take a crack at the Bellarmine course.
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The Meet Director, Committee and all who make this event possible
Wish to thank Tom LaBonge, former Councilmember District 4, Chairman of Trade, Commerce & Tourism and Vice Chair of Arts, Parks, Health, Aging & River. Tom championed our efforts to hold the Meet at Griffith Park throughout the years. We couldn’t have done it without you, Tom! Thank you for your civic leadership and support of this long standing tradition of running –45 years in the making! |
Friends of the Invitational
MOLLY HUDDLE
American record holder Molly Huddle joined us in 2013 and gave away an autographed pair of spikes. The US women’s record holder at 5000 (14:42.64) also signed autographs at the start/finish area. Molly has competed at the world track and field championships. She also was the first American finisher at the 2013 Moscow championships and won the International Women’s mile at the Morton Games in 2014. Molly's recent accomplishments was finishing 6th in the 10k at the Rio Olympics.
American record holder Molly Huddle joined us in 2013 and gave away an autographed pair of spikes. The US women’s record holder at 5000 (14:42.64) also signed autographs at the start/finish area. Molly has competed at the world track and field championships. She also was the first American finisher at the 2013 Moscow championships and won the International Women’s mile at the Morton Games in 2014. Molly's recent accomplishments was finishing 6th in the 10k at the Rio Olympics.
DUANE SOLOMON
Duane Solomon joined us in 2014. Highlights: 2012 Olympic 800 meter Finalist - 4th in a time of 1:42.82 making him the 2nd fastest American behind his coach Johnny Gray. (That was also the fastest 800m final in olympic history where the world record was broken by the champion). 2013 - USA 800m Outdoor Championship - A California Native out of Cabrillo High School (Lompoc) and attended USC. Now training in Florida with his same coach, Johnny Grey. One of his main goals, is to break the American record which stands at 1:42.60). He was also the athlete in attendance at Bell -Jeff in 2012.
Duane Solomon joined us in 2014. Highlights: 2012 Olympic 800 meter Finalist - 4th in a time of 1:42.82 making him the 2nd fastest American behind his coach Johnny Gray. (That was also the fastest 800m final in olympic history where the world record was broken by the champion). 2013 - USA 800m Outdoor Championship - A California Native out of Cabrillo High School (Lompoc) and attended USC. Now training in Florida with his same coach, Johnny Grey. One of his main goals, is to break the American record which stands at 1:42.60). He was also the athlete in attendance at Bell -Jeff in 2012.