45th Annual Arcadia Invitational track and field event took place at Arcadia High School yesterday. The Arcadia High School girls team of Laura Guidolin, Isabel Annino, Veronica Yamane (photo) and Glyndyll Mancia finished fifth with the ninth fastest time in the nation at 9:22.09 in the 4X800 relay. The Arcadia High School boys team of Ryan Vargas, Francis Lee, Juan DeLaRosa and Tony Moseley ran the nation's fourth fastest time, 7:48.66. Yamane ran her personal best in the 3,200-meter race.
The 2010 All-Area Girls Tennis was named. Those from Arcadia High School are Caroline Young, Michelle Zhu, Francis Dean, Annie Tung and Elizabeth Lieu. Coach of the Year is Jerry Dohling. An Arcadia High School girl on the second team is Nadia Pacheco-Amaro.
Arcadia High School Apaches boys cross country team, running as the Arcadia Cross Country Club, completed its undefeated season by winning the Nike National Championship meet in Portland, Oregon.
Arcadia High School Apaches boys cross country team runs an impressive race at 63rd Annual Mt. SAC Invitational. The Arcadia High School team consists of Ammar Moussa, Allen Leung, Ryan Vargas, Francis Lee, William Tsai and Esmond Wei. Their run times are given.
Arcadia High School boys cross country team's coach Jim O'Brien is profiled and is shown in photos with runners Esmond Wei, William Tsai, Ryan Vargas, Allen Leung, Francis Lee, Sergio Gonzalez and Eric Garibay.
Arcadia High School boys Sergio Gonzalez (Runner of the Year), Ryan Vargas, Mitchell Pratt and Estevan DeLaRosa, have been named to 2011 All-Area Cross Country boys first team. James O'Brien of Arcadia High School, is named Coach of the Year. Francis Lee of Arcadia High School, is on the second team.
Arcadia High School girls named to 2011 All-Area Tennis first team include Francis Dean and Nadia Pacheco-Amaro. Elizabeth Lieu of Arcadia is on the second team.
Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson defends his speaker of choice at next month's Mayor's Community Breakfast. He has invited H. B. London, of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes same-sex marriage. Residents and activists upset about this choice are organizing two counterevents of their own. Activists are planning a "peaceful" demonstration March 4 outside Arcadia Community Center and a bar-b-que at Pasadena's Unitarian Church for all families. Focus on the Family was founded in Arcadia by Dr. James C. Dobson and believes marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Amundson said the event is not about sexuality but about the Arcadia family.
Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson's selection of Reverend H. B. London, Jr. to speak at the community breakfast on March 4, is drawing criticism from some residents and gay-rights activists. London is a vice president of ministry outreach at Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes gay marriage. Some residents are asking Mayor Amundson to reconsider and they feel Focus on the Family delivers hateful messages. The city estimates it will pay between $5000 and $5500 for its contribution to the event, which will include the speaker's plane fare.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital sponsors a free community open house on September 17 to celebrate the upcoming opening of its new patient tower. The hospital is at 300 West Huntington Drive in Arcadia. Related story on page 14.