Sloan, Bernard-Joseph both have potential to produce first sweep of girls hurdles titles since 2014

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Following the most successful indoor season of her high school career, Rock Canyon CO senior Emily Sloan is hoping to make a big impact in her Arcadia Invitational debut.

Sloan, who placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles March 11 at New Balance Nationals Indoor at The Armory in New York, is scheduled to compete in the 100 and 300 hurdles Saturday at Arcadia High in the meet’s 51st edition.

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“I took about a week and a half off after New York to rest my body physically and mentally,” said Sloan, who elevated to the No. 4 all-time prep performer Feb. 17 when she ran 8.07 seconds in the 60 hurdles at the USATF Indoor Championships in New Mexico.

“Also, after coming from 60 meters to 100 and 300 meters, it’s a lot more sprint endurance I need to get used to.”

Sloan, an Oregon signee, ran 13.81 seconds in the 100 hurdles and cruised to victory in 44.42 in the 300 hurdles March 31 at the Highlands Ranch Showcase. Sloan and Roosevelt CA senior Breanna Bernard-Joseph are the only athletes entered in both invitational hurdles events Saturday.

Bernard-Joseph prevailed in both races March 24 at the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational in Arizona in 14.02 and 42.46. The USC signee has personal bests of 13.72 and 41.87.

“California is always a fun place to run. It also is great competition for early season to get ready to PR at my state meet in May,” said Sloan, who boasts personal bests of 13.46 and 41.24 from 2016.

“My indoor season has prepared me a lot for my upcoming meets. Being in such a competitive field and competing with the best and learning how to deal with nerves, stress, and all the little things has helped me become a better and more mature athlete. I believe I am more prepared and experienced coming into outdoor season.”

Sloan is already among the national outdoor leaders in the 100 hurdles, but knows she will be challenged in the 300 hurdles, with a field that also includes Bullis MD standouts Leah Phillips and Masai Russell, along with Chandler AZ senior Jai Gruenwald.

“Speed endurance is always a big transition for coming from just 60 meters,” Sloan said. “I’m still getting used to it and training with more repeats and double the hurdles to improve on my endurance which is needed, especially for the 300s. A main focus of mine is working on my alternate leg for when I have to switch in the 300 hurdles.”

Centennial NV graduate Tiana Bonds, now at University of Arizona, is the last female athlete to sweep both Arcadia hurdles titles in the same year in 2014.

Last season, both meet records were eclipsed, with Agoura CA standout Tara Davis, a freshman at Georgia, running 13.01 seconds in the 100 hurdles. Union Catholic NJ star Sydney McLaughlin, now at Kentucky, set a national high school record in the 300 hurdles at 38.90.