Mike Powell holds a 30-year-old world record in track & field, so Mt. SAC celebrates

Three-time Olympian and Mt. SAC Relays champion feted at Hilmer Lodge Stadium

By Penny Rosenberg, San Gabriel Valley Tribune

In most sports, records come and go, but — so far — not Edgewood High’s Mike Powell’s.

It has stood the test of time. The long test of time. Monday, Aug. 30, was the 30th anniversary of his world record long jump of 29 feet, 4½ inches, and Mount San Antonio College hosted an event to celebrate the milestone. Fans, some of them track celebrities in their own right, were able to take pictures with Powell.

Unlike some events, which can see new world records several times a year — or a meet — the long jump often has a long wait. The previous record, before Powell’s, was held by Bob Beamon: 29 feet, 2½ inches set in the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

At the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, Powell’s landed at 29-4½ as the hometown West Covina athlete faced down Olympic great Carl Lewis.

“It was epic,” Dwight Stones, the former world record holder in the high jump, who called the 1991 Worlds for NBC, said. “Just epic. Carl jumps 29 feet three times and doesn’t win?”

In 2015, Powell surpassed Beamon’s reign — and kept on going.

To mark the occasion Monday at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, other greats in track & field attended, including Olympian and former world record holder in the triple jump Willie Banks and former women’s marathon world record holder Jacqueline Hansen.