American River College’s track and field team hosted its first annual Reid & Reynon Memorial Meet at Beaver Stadium on March 3. What was known as the Beaver Relays is now a commemorative event for two late ARC track and field coaches, Michael Reid and Ray Reynon.

After multiple days of rain, the sun finally shone, allowing ideal conditions for this inaugural occasion. The significance of it was made clear by the turnout.

“We have alumni that flew down for this,” said assistant coach Robert Ellis III over the intercom. “It’s a Friday, people called off work to be here.”

Staff, former athletes and family were all invited down to the track for a brief moment of reflection on the legacy that these coaches left. After, the new plaque installed in honor of the coaches was unveiled.

Ellis said that the memorial meant a lot to everyone who has been involved with ARC’s track and field program.

“They were like family to all of us,” Ellis said. “It’s real love. You can see, from everyone that showed up, what effect they had.”

Jeanette Allred-Powless, women’s head coach and director of the meet, said that the experience was heartwarming.

“It really was goosebumps and nostalgia for so many of us to be able to collectively come back,” Allred-Powless said. “Even with some student athletes not knowing others, we all have this common thread. Our saying is once a Beaver always a Beaver.”

There were many notable performances by ARC’s men’s team. 

Aedan Ming and John Haas placed third and fourth in the 100-meter dash. ARC dominated the 5000-meter run with Pedro Tirado coming in first, Gavin Vance second and Lucas Reeves in third. Isaiah Earls placed third in the 110-meter hurdles. Joey Brown got first in the 400-meter hurdles.

The men’s team placed second in the 4×100-meter relay. They also placed second in the sprint medley relay and first in the distance medley relay.

Carson Trefz placed third in the pole vault. Devin Hernandez placed first in hammer throw and second in shot put.

ARC’s women’s team also came to compete. Mary Nolan and Marina Zayarchenko placed first and second in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Alexa Camacho placed second in long jump. Elizabeth Povey, Natasha Dykman and Kimberly Bossman placed first, second and third in both discus and hammer throw. Povey also placed second in javelin. Bossman and Dykman placed first and second in shot put.