By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Here is an event-by-event breakdown of what to look for in these invitational boys track events Friday and Saturday at the 49th Arcadia Invitational:

100-meter dash (6:32 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Noah Lyles, T.C. Williams (Virginia). The Pan Am Junior silver medalist ran a wind-legal best 10.14 to win last year at U.S. Junior Nationals after capturing the title at New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

Other contenders: Zach Shinnick, Damien. Has a season-best 10.53 from a month ago, but his victories in the 60 and 300 at the California Winter Outdoor Championships demonstrated he was ready to compete against the nation’s best.

Sleeper: Tre James, Las Vegas (Nevada). With a personal-best 10.49, trying to make it two titles in a row for Nevada athletes after Green Valley’s Ian Mack prevailed last year in 10.44.

200 meters (8:30 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Noah Lyles, T.C. Williams (Virginia). After he and Norman clocked 20.18 and 20.24 at the U.S. Junior Nationals, there won’t be a rematch at Arcadia, which makes Lyles an overwhelming favorite.

Other contenders: Zach Shinnick, Damien and Tre James, Las Vegas (Nevada). Have similar best times of 21.09 and 21.10, but both will need to run under 21 seconds in order to challenge Lyles.

Sleeper: Isaiah Cunningham, Rancho Verde. Ran a wind-legal best 21.35 to win the California Relays.

400 meters (7:08 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Michael Norman, Vista Murrieta. Last year’s national outdoor leader at 45.19, Norman looks to defend his Arcadia title after knocking off Rai Benjamin last year.

Other contenders: Josephus Lyles, T.C. Williams (Virginia). The World Youth silver medalist finished No. 2 in the country last year at 45.46.

Sleeper: Will Allen, Paul Laurence Dunbar (Kentucky). Placed second in the New Balance National Indoor final in 47.07, just under last year’s outdoor best of 47.09.

800 meters (6:44 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Austin Tamagno, Brea-Olinda. Ran 1:52.06 in a solo effort a month ago, but has the potential to challenge Connor Dunne’s national-leading 1:50.53 with a quick early pace.

Other contenders: Willie Hall, Davis Senior, Ben Micallef, Bellarmine College Prep, Garrett Calhoun, Timberline (Idaho). Hall (1:51.76) and Micallef (1:52.48) were second and third behind Dunne at the Stanford Invitational, both producing top 10 times nationally and Calhoun clocked 1:52.39 indoors at the Simplot Games.

Sleeper: Nathan Pixler, Eastlake (Washington). Ran 1:51.87 at the Portland Track Festival last year.

1 Mile (6:04 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Connor Dunne, San Clemente. In one of the most impressive performances of the season, Dunne won the APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions Distance Classic in a national-leading 4:04.59.

Other contenders: Chance Lamberth, Anaheim Canyon, Logan MacKay, Davis (Utah), Phillip Rocha, Arcadia. Lamberth rallied from last place midway through the APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions Distance Classic to clock 4:09.18 and MacKay, who was seventh last year at Arcadia, won the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational in 4:16.65. Rocha chose not to race in the 3,200 after clocking 8:59.42 at last year's meet, instead choosing to focus on the shorter distance in his final Arcadia Invitational.

Sleeper: Garek Bielaczyc, Salt Lake City East (Utah). Although he is entered in both the mile and 3,200, it is uncertain if Bielaczyc will race in both, but he is part of a strong contingent of Utah runners scheduled to compete.

3,200 meters (8:50 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Garek Bielaczyc, Salt Lake City East (Utah). The Foot Locker West Regional champion and fourth-place national finisher was dominant during his indoor schedule, including victories at New Balance Boise Indoor and Simplot Games, capped by winning the 2-mile title at the New Balance National Indoor meet in New York.

Other contenders: Eduardo “Lalo” Herrera, Madera South, Ben Veatch, Carmel (Indiana), Casey Clinger, American (Fork) Utah. Clinger followed his exceptional cross country season – highlighted by a Nike Cross Nationals title – with a strong indoor schedule, Veatch is the top returnee after taking fifth last year at Arcadia in 8:53.42 and Herrera is the national leader in the 3,000 at 8:15.01, which converts to 8:51.39 for 3,200.

Sleeper: Cooper Teare, St. Joseph Notre Dame. The national outdoor leader at 8:56.07 delivered an impressive performance to win at the Dublin Distance Fiesta, but will need to find another level in order to secure a victory against this loaded field.

110-meter hurdles (6:16 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Joseph Anderson, Upland. The wind-legal state leader at 13.87, the junior is motivated to capture the title after a second-place finish last season.

Other contenders: Koty Burton, La Quinta and Khalil Dorsey, Colony. Both have run 14.1 or better and with strong starts, have the potential to challenge Anderson and eclipse the 14-second barrier.

Sleeper: Julian Body, Jesuit (Oregon). Has run a personal-best 14.21, but will need to dip under 14 seconds to keep pace in this field.

300-meter hurdles (7:18 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Jonathan Harvey, De La Salle. Following a victory at the California Relyas, the state leader at 37.42 seeks the biggest win of his career in a preview of the state final.

Other contenders: Cameron Hurd, Trabuco Hills and Julian Body, Jesuit (Oregon). With nearly identical performances this season at 37.56 and 37.57, they both have the potential to win in a balanced field.

Sleeper: Paramveer Chohan, Buchanan. Although he struggled at the West Coast Relays, Chohan has run a personal-best 37.53 and is a strong finisher.

4 x 100 relay (5:29 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Vista Murrieta. The Broncos won the title last year in 40.68 and will look to defend that championship in their only head-to-head relay showdown with T.C. Williams.

Other contenders: T.C. Williams (Virginia). Josephus and Noah Lyles will carry significant responsibilities in order for the Titans to beat the California powers, but they did contribute to a 40.84 at last year’s Penn Relays.

Sleeper: Notre Dame. The state leaders at 41.58, the Knights can’t be overlooked and are motivated following last year’s third-place finish.

4 x 200 relay (5:29 p.m. PDT Friday)

Favorite: Vista Murrieta. Following a meet-record 1:24.53 last year, the Broncos are aiming for Long Beach Poly’s 1999 state record of 1:24.35.

Other contenders: Cathedral. The California Winter Outdoor champions have great experience in this event, indoors and outdoors, and are seeking a signature victory against a quality field.

Sleeper: Notre Dame. It will take the Knights running under 1:25 to have a chance to win, but they have lineup in order to challenge.

4 x 400 relay (9:41 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Notre Dame. Unless Michael Norman lines up in this event for Vista Murrieta, it will be difficult to knock off the Knights, who have demonstrated great consistency and depth this season.

Other contenders: Roosevelt, Vista Murrieta, Cathedral. The top three teams from last year’s meet return with many familiar faces in what promises to be a preview of the state meet.

Sleeper: Chaminade. With the Eagles not focusing on the 4 x 100 relay, they could be dangerous in this event, especially after winning at the UCLA Legends Invitational.

4 x 800 relay (5:08 p.m. PDT Friday)

Favorite: Great Oak. After winning the Redondo NIKE Invitational, the Wolfpack will need another big performance from Nelson Quintana and his teammates in order to hold off a talented field.

Other contenders: Ridgewood (New Jersey) and Indian Hills (New Jersey). Both teams ran under 8 minutes during the indoor season, but have yet to contest the event outdoors.

Sleeper: Redondo Union. Three athletes return for the Sea Hawks from a lineup that ran 7:50.58 and placed second at last year’s meet, but the team will need a strong performance from freshman Benjamin Tait in order to prevail.

4 x 1,600 relay (9:48 p.m. PDT Friday)

Favorite: Great Oak. One of the great battles from last year’s meet was the Wolfpack’s showdown with Dana Hills, which produced two of the top 10 times in state history. Isaac Cortes, Spencer Dodds, Solomon Fountain and Cole Spencer have their sights set on Lompoc’s 1973 state record of 17:07.3.

Other contenders: Dana Hills and The Woodlands (Texas). Three of the four athletes return from Dana Hills’ lineup that ran 17:15.78, good for No. 6 in state history. The Woodlands enters as the national leader at 17:36.84.

Sleeper: Madera South. With Miguel Villar and Eduardo “Lalo” Herrera on the lineup, as long as long as Victor Ochoa and Nick Hernandez can stay in contention on their legs, the Stallions could remain in the hunt late in the race.

800 sprint medley relay (6:25 p.m. PDT Friday)

Favorite: Chaminade. The Eagles were the national leaders last year after winning this event in 1:29.84. They will attempt to challenge Long Beach Poly’s 2007 record 1:28.43.

Other contenders: Cathedral. Few teams have the potential to keep pace with Chaminade, but the Phantoms have an experienced lineup with Jesse Audelo, Renard Bell, Stefon Goudeau and Andres Woodruff.

Sleeper: Bellarmine College Prep. After winning the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 at the Stanford Invitational, the Bells are looking to make an even bigger statement with a victory at Arcadia.

1,600 sprint medley relay (6:45 p.m. PDT Friday)

Favorite: Los Alamitos. The national leaders at 3:28.64, the Griffins will rely heavily on Thomas Heib on the anchor in order to repeat as champions.

Other contenders: Long Beach Wilson and Nordhoff. Both teams challenged Los Alamitos at the California Relays and are looking forward to the rematch, with Cameron Kunde possibly playing a significant factor as Nordhoff’s anchor.

Sleeper: De La Salle. Won the event indoors at the Simplot Games and has plenty of potential to excel again outdoors.

Distance medley relay (9:05 p.m. PDT Saturday)

Favorite: Davis Senior. Following a runner-up finish at the Stanford Invitational in U.S. No. 2 10:14.32, the Blue Devils have the potential to capture the title, but will be pushed by several quality challengers.

Other contenders: Davis (Utah), Brea-Olinda and Great Oak. All three teams have strong anchors, especially with Brea scheduled to have Austin Tamagno, but remaining in contention on the first three legs will be vital.

Sleeper: Redondo Union. Won the Redondo NIKE Invitational and will be motivated to secure victory at Arcadia following a runner-up finish last year.

4 x 110 shuttle hurdles relay (6:04 p.m. PDT Friday)

Favorite: Weequahic (New Jersey). The New Balance National Indoor runner-up is the clear favorite, looking to become only the third team in meet history to run under 1 minute.

Other contenders: Mountain Pointe (Arizona). Following a false start at last year’s meet, Rakevion White and Cornelius Payne return for the Pride, motivated to compete for a championship.

Sleeper: Woodbridge. The Warriors have plenty of experience and could be a surprise challenger from an outside lane.