For decades, California track fans have looked forward to the Modesto Relays as one of the annual highlights of the California track circuit. Some of the greatest races in history have taken place at the event, which boasts a grand total of 33 world records. The list of Olympic legends who have competed there is too big to repeat here.

It all started in 1942, when the athletic director at the junior college asked Tom Moore, a former world-record holder in the hurdles, if he could help put on a track meet. Moore signed on enthusiastically. The first meet, he fired off the gun for all the races except one, the hurdles, which he won.

For years the Modesto track was comprised of clay and was legendary for its speed. Records fell in the sprints, the distances, the jumps and the field events. One of the most memorable came in the much-hyped mile of 1960, when two of the giants of the event, Herb Elliot and Dyrol Burleson, were trumpeted in pre-meet publicity. The race was so big that it was previewed on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Then came the news that Elliot could not run. When it was announced at the stadium, a disappointed silence fell over the crowd. The race went off with few expectations, but a runner named Jim Beatty saved the day by breaking the American record in the mile, finishing in a crowd-pleasing 3:58.0.

The years that followed brought more great events, and while the Relays struggled through some lean years when track went pro and appearance fees rose, Moore kept on pushing. In recent years, with new sponsorship, the meet has blossomed again. Stacy Dragila's world record pole vault in 2000 was the first global record at the meet in 19 years. Last Saturday, she barely missed another record.

In all those years Moore became -- perhaps more so than any other man and meet in America -- synonymous with the meet. For 60 years he devoted himself to the event, and for 60 years he started most of the races. Last Saturday, he was absent. He died the morning before, at the age of 88, from bone cancer.

As Greg Miller, who took over as meet director from Moore, told the Modesto Bee, "They just don't make people like Tom Moore anymore. He's one in a billion."

On the Modesto track
In addition to Dragila's vault (she cleared 15 feet, 1¾ inches and missed at 15-9&frac3/4;), a number of other stars shone last weekend. Allen Johnson hurdled 13.29. South Africa's Hezekiel Sepeng won the 800 in 1:47.91. Miquel Pate long jumped a windy 27-4.

Across the Pacific
On Sunday, the Japan Grand Prix in Osaka saw Shawn Crawford blast a 9.94 in the 100 meters, just edging Tim Montgomery's 9.95. Crawford later proclaimed that he will run a 9.72 this year. Said Montgomery, "I never thought Shawn would be a big threat, so it was certainly a wake-up call."

Also in Japan, Antonio Pettigrew ran a solid 44.72 in the 400. Mark Crear won the hurdles in 13.48. Savante Stringfellow long jumped 27-10¼, and Melissa Morrison won the women's hurdles in 12.81. Benita Johnson of Australia won the 5,000 in 15:01.44, and marathon star Catherine Ndereba -- perhaps speedwork deprived -- finished 10th in 16:03.25.

South of the border
The Ibero-American Championships bring together the nations of South and Central America. This year's edition was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Brazil dominated, winning 38 medals to the 16 of Cuba. The highlight came in the men's 200, with Brazil's André Domingos da Silva clocking a 20.22. Maurren Maggi won the long jump in a solid 22-10½ but pulled her hamstring while warming up for the triple jump.

Maybe the SEC's are better?
The results of these early-season international meets are nice, if you like that sort of thing. However, I can't help but feel that any track fan with unlimited finances would have made a better call by flying to Starkville, Miss., for the SEC Championships. Tennessee won the men's title, South Carolina the women's, and the times produced were downright scary.

Vol sophomore Justin Gatlin won the 100 in 10.11, the 200 in 19.86, and took second in the 110 hurdles, his 13.41 the same as Ron Bramlett's winning time. In the 800, South Carolina's Otukile Lekote won in 1:45.27.

South Carolina's Tiffany Ross hurdled 55.75, and her teammate Lashinda Demus won the 400 in 51.24. The women's relays were won in 43.06 (Louisiana State) and 3:30.68 (South Carolina).

In other news ...
Merlene Ottey is now officially Slovenian, having been granted citizenship in the country she has been living in for the past four years. She plans to compete this season, and the Slovenian federation has made it plain that they want the former Jamaican legend to wear her new colors.

On the high school scene, Florida sprinter Sanya Richards won the triple at her state meet, clocking 11.60, 23.81 and 52.51 for the sprints. On the boys' side, Kevin Marion long jumped 25-5.

At the fabled Texas state meet, wind-aided times of 10.12 and 20.58 were impressive enough; they just weren't good enough to win in the 5A division. Edorian McCullough sprinted 10.08 (with a big wind at his back). Jeremy Warner doubled at 20.48w and 46.52. In 4A, Kelly Willie ran a lap in 45.96. Girls performances impressed just as much. Marshevet Hooker sprinted 11.28w and 23.25w, and Ychlindria Spears tripled with the 200 in 24.20, the long jump at 20-5¾, and 43-11w in the triple jump.

Jeff Hollobaugh, former managing editor of Track and Field News, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached by e-mail at michtrack@aol.com.