In the Bay Area, the Dan Gabor Invitational was one of the most highly anticipated and attended track meets, serving as a crucial fundraiser for Amador’s Track & Field Program. With over 40 schools participating, the meet has been a long-lasting tradition for spectators and athletes alike. Most importantly, proceeds from the event are crucial to maintain the constantly growing program.
“Dan Gabor is one of the biggest track meets in Northern California. I’d say there’s about 55 teams here today which is about 2000 people running; it’s kind of insane. It brings so much funding and money for Amador,” said Anthony Terpugofff (‘26).
Most importantly, this season set the perfect stage for an exciting and competitive meet. Clear skies and ideal weather were a welcome change for those looking to enjoy the variety of events and opportunities.
“We only have two home meets at Amador and this is by far the largest and the most fun. In recent years we’ve had nothing but rainy weather and it’s been really miserable. I remember last year, it rained so hard the track almost flooded but this year it’s really sunny and perfect. It’s going to be a good meet,” said Diego Laredo (‘26).
Rising Concerns
However, as the program continues to grow with more students joining every year, the question of rising costs to maintain important facilities becomes more pressing. While the event’s success might bring in significant support, it may not be enough to fully cover the increasing financial demands.
“For us, the meet is not going to go away because it is so big. It still strikes me as the wrong thing to do though. You’re not only asking for the parents to pay for things, now you’re asking them to just give you money. The money that we would have that we’d use on equipment – you’re now taxing our programs that you also are not funding. It feels like a kind of dirty way for them to get a few bucks,” said Track & Field Coach Jason Oswalt.
Balancing the tradeoff between reputation and funding, the district might take a hit because of its relationship to the program. While these changes may help manage resources, there are concerns about long-term effects on the program’s visibility.
“It becomes an inconvenience on the program. You’re definitely losing out on events that were really good for those programs but also reflected well in the district. I don’t think it’s worth it,” said Oswalt.
Despite the challenges of being self-funded, the program tries to offer the right opportunities with a growing number of team members. The hope is that all paths lead to a more skillful and inclusive team.
“The district and we have done a pretty good job making it an accessible sport. We have a huge team. We’ve got 190 people on the team. If you sign up and say you’re going to come do it and show up every day, then you’re on the team,” said Oswalt.
