Princeton University
Larry Ellis Invitational
Men's Track & Field Hosts Annual Larry Ellis Invitational this Weekend
April 10, 2024 | Men's Track and Field
Larry Ellis InvitationalÂ
Friday, April 12th - Saturday, April 13th |Â Weaver StadiumÂ
Meet Information | Live Stats | Visiting Team Guide
PRINCETON, NJ - The Princeton men's track and field team is gearing up to host the Larry Ellis Invitational this weekend at Weaver Stadium. Competition will take place between Friday, April 12th through Saturday, April 13th. Since 1999, Princeton holds the Larry Ellis Invitational each year to honor and commemorate Larry Ellis for his contributions and dedication to the sport.
The full schedule of events for the Larry Ellis Invitational can be found HERE.Â
History of Larry Ellis
A trailblazer, Larry Ellis became the first Black head coach in the Ivy League when he was hired as the Princeton head track & field coach in 1970. He and his wife Shirley came to Princeton with their four children Leslie, Robin, Joanne, and Larry, Jr in the summer of 1970. Ellis would go on to have tremendous impact on hundreds of Princeton student-athletes and colleagues in this role for the next 22 years.
When Ellis arrived at Princeton, the Tigers had never won a Heptagonal championship in cross-country or indoor track & field. Additionally, the school's most recent outdoor Heps title at the time was in 1938 and its only IC4A team championship was in 1879. By late October 1975, Ellis had his first Heps cross country team trophy. Shortly thereafter,Â
As a coach of color and a world-class middle-distance coach, Ellis immediately had a tremendous impact on the men's track and field program and played a key role in attracting more African-American students to Princeton. Ellis was also a huge advocate and supporter of Princeton's women's track & field and cross-country programs. At a time when women's programs were often not supported the way they needed to be, having someone of Ellis' stature in their corner was of great benefit. The strong synergies evident still today between the Princeton men's and women's programs are yet another lasting aspect of Ellis' legacy.
Reach more about Larry Ellis HERE.
Season Recaps:
Sam Howell Invitational (Mar. 30)
Hurricane Alumni Invitational (Apr. 5-6)
Up Next
The men's track & field team will travel to the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Va. from April 18th-20th.
