By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 54th Arcadia Invitational is scheduled for Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at Arcadia High.

ARCADIA INVITATIONAL LIVE WEBCAST INFO

Here are 10 relay storylines to follow at one of the nation’s elite high school track and field competitions, which features athletes from 29 states and more than 600 schools:

Highlanders aiming for highest hurdling honor

Upland enjoyed a big milestone last year when it set both meet and California state records by clocking 57.75 seconds in the invitational 4x110-meter shuttle hurdles relay.

Kai Graves-Blanks, Davis Davis-Lyric, DeQuan January and Delaney Crawford have returned to Arcadia High, looking to contribute a 33rd all-time prep mark Friday to the meet legacy known as the “Home of National Records.”

The national standard of 56.32 achieved by Westside High from Anderson, S.C., has stood since 2004, with only four programs – including three from New Jersey – even producing sub-57 efforts since the memorable performance of Dennis Martin, Brandon Brown, Martez Brown and Mauricus Brown that eclipsed the 1996 mark of 56.51 by Wolfson High in Florida.

Union Catholic, which ran 56.63 in 2013 and ranks No. 4 all-time, is entered in the race, along with fellow New Jersey program Ridgewood.

Vista Murrieta is a second California entry, also looking to join a group of only four schools to have eclipsed the 60-second barrier in meet history.

The last boys team nationally to run under 57 seconds is East Orange High from New Jersey in both 2017 and 2018.

JSerra, Niwot both pursuing distance meet records

JSerra achieved an impressive double last year at Arcadia High by becoming the first girls program since Great Oak in 2016 to sweep the 4x800-meter relay and distance medley relay in the same meet.

But with the competition being provided by only their California rivals last season, the Lions are not only a year older, but even more ambitious this season as they look to challenge themselves against some of the elite programs in the country Friday and Saturday.

Niwot High of Colorado, competing as REAL Training, showcased exceptional relay depth in June and July at The Outdoor Nationals Presented by Nike at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., winning the 4x400, 4x800 and DMR, along with placing second in the 4x200, 4xMile and 800-meter sprint medley relay.

The programs are expected to square off Friday as part of the “Burning Batons” session in the 4x1,600 relay and Saturday in the invitational session in both the 4x400 and DMR.

JSerra coach Chase Frazier will rely on a group of six competitors across four relays, including its pursuit Friday of the 4x800 meet record of 8:58.30 held by A. Phillip Randolph of New York since 2002. The Lions won last year’s title in 9:15.12 and also have their sights set on the California state record of 8:58.00 produced by Long Beach Poly in 2003.

Hanna Barmettler, Georgia Jeanneret, Brooke O’Brien, Sydney Paulson, Anastasia Snodgrass and USC commit Ashlee Gallegos are looking to build off their team title March 26 at the Orange County Championships and impressive performances April 2 at the Stanford Invitational for the Lions, who are attempting to become only the third California team in history to eclipse the 9-minute mark in the 4x800, joining Long Beach Poly and Harvard-Westlake.

Niwot, which set the Colorado state 4x800 record of 8:52.48 last year, has a well-rounded group for coach Kelly Christensen to choose from. Olivia Alessandrini, Lex Bullen, Tessa Everett, Bella Nelson, Sierra Parks, Mia Prok, Madison Shults, Stella Vieth and North Carolina-bound Eva Klingbeil are all prepared to compete in three relays.

Union Catholic of New Jersey placed second March 12 in the 4x800 at New Balance Nationals Indoor in 8:53.69.

The only two sub-20 performances in meet history in the girls 4x1.600 relay came in 2015, with Great Oak edging Desert Vista High from Arizona by a 19:58.71 to 19:59.91 margin, as Sydney Belus held off Dani Jones on the thrilling anchor leg for the Wolfpack.

Although Niwot doesn’t boast the same lineup, the Cougars ran 19:45.37 last year to place second behind the national outdoor record of 19:40.67 achieved by Saratoga Springs High from New York, competing as Kinetic Track Club.

Torrey Pines returns as the defending 4x1600 champion from Arcadia, clocking 20:58.47 last season, and is led by senior Annika Salz and sophomore Scarlett Taylor.

Buchanan, the reigning Division 1 state cross country champion, could also be in the conversation with juniors Grace Hutchison and Sydney Sundgren leading the way, along with freshman Sierra Cornett in the lineup.

The DMR meet record of 11:40.89 has stood since 2011, with Harvard-Westlake producing that mark on its way to setting the national prep outdoor record of 11:22.23 that June at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor event in Greensboro, N.C.

Niwot clocked 11:33.51 last year to win the national title in Oregon, with La Canada returning Katelyn Matarese, Catherine Mispagel and Arielle McKenzie from a group that took third at Hayward Field in 11:48.01.

JSerra ran 11:54.43 last year to prevail at Arcadia.

Although neither JSerra or Niwot are favored to win the invitational 4x400, both teams have run under the 4-minute mark this season and look to benefit from facing elite competition Saturday night.

American Fork seeks return to spotlight

The last national boys relay all-time outdoor mark to be achieved at Arcadia came in 2017, with Casey Clinger, McKay Johns, Patrick Parker and Carson Clinger representing American Fork High in Utah by running 16:41.30 in the 4x1,600.

American Fork is again traveling to Arcadia with an impressive lineup Friday, including seniors Nate Jaster, Jayden Fitzgarrald and Chase Evans, along with sophomores Ben Bradshaw and Ben Jaster all capable of competing for veteran coach Timo Mostert.

But American Fork will be tested by a pair of Oregon powers in Central Catholic and Jesuit, along with several California programs looking to make a big impact, including last year’s champion Bellarmine Prep.

Gus Clevenger, Jacob Nenow, Caden Swanson, John Schuler, Joshua Augustine and Dominic Ricci are all available for Jesuit, with Central Catholic boasting Wes Shipsey, Max Girardet, Charlie Black, Julian Kingery and Garrett Mackey among its potential competitors.

American Fork and Great Oak are the only teams in meet history to produce sub-17 efforts.

Newbury Park would have been an overwhelming favorite to join that group after running 16:29.31 in a full 4xMile relay in March at the New Balance Nationals Indoor at The Armory in New York, but the Panthers are focusing only Saturday on the invitational 3,200 meters.

Among the California entries, Loyola, Great Oak, Crescenta Valley, Granada, Dublin, Palos Verdes, Harvard-Westlake and Bellarmine Prep are all capable of finishing in the top five.

Grizzlies ready to strike gold

Golden Valley has the potential to create quite a buzz in the girls sprint relays Friday and Saturday, entered in the invitational 4x100 and 4x200, along with the 800 sprint medley and 1,600 sprint medley.

Adonijah Currie, Kylee Davis, Ta’ahja Fann, Tylar Gallien, Jade Teal, Nevaeh Williams and Makayla Washington will be active Friday and Saturday, with Arden Keeton scheduled to join on the 1,600 sprint medley relay. Golden Valley also has freshmen Nyah Fields and Breelyn Newsome capable of contributing.

Golden Valley could set the tone for its entire weekend with a strong performance Friday in the invitational 4x200, especially facing Long Beach Wilson, along with Union Catholic from New Jersey, Westlake from Georgia, along with Nevada entries Faith Lutheran and Las Vegas Centennial.

Another great battle is in store Friday in the 800 sprint medley relay with Golden Valley meeting North Canyon High from Arizona and Texas A&M commit Joy Moorer, Lake Oswego from Oregon – led by sophomore standout Mia Brahe-Pedersen – as well as defending champion Long Beach Wilson, which features Aujane Luckey, Sadia Green and Long Beach Millikan transfer Samarra Monroy.

The 1,600 sprint medley relay includes reigning champion Harvard-Westlake, led by Alyssa Thompson and Daniela Quintero, in addition to Lees Summit West from Missouri and a strong Northeast presence, including Union Catholic and Ridgewood from New Jersey, plus Ursuline School and Susan Wagner from New York.

Monte Vista could be a darkhorse Friday in the event, with junior Cate Peters potentially running anchor for the Mustangs.

The invitational 4x100 showdown Saturday has the components to be spectacular, with Golden Valley joined by last year’s winner Long Beach Poly, in addition to Long Beach Wilson, Carson, Serra, Eastvale Roosevelt, Calabasas and Westlake High from Georgia.

Long Beach Poly has a similar opportunity to Golden Valley, scheduled to compete Friday in the invitational 800 sprint medley relay and 1,600 sprint medley relay, in addition to Saturday in the invitational 4x100, with seniors Lauren Reed, River Sampson and Aniyah Wyche, junior Kennadi Reed, sophomore Taylor Johnson and freshman Jaylin Hunter looking to build on their experience from March at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

All the focus on Fresno Central

Following its program-record performance of 40.92 seconds April 2 at the West Coast Relays at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium that not only took over the state lead, but elevated to No. 6 in the country this season, Fresno Central affirmed its status as the favorite entering the invitational 4x100 relay Saturday.

Clovis North captured the 4x100 relay title in 2019 at Arcadia, and with defending champion Upland not entered, the Central Section could be well represented again, with Imari Conley, Elijah Lindsey, Cameron Tarver and Jeremiah Walker ready to lead the Grizzlies to one of the biggest victories in program history.

Muir and Long Beach Poly are the only programs in meet history to run under 40.50, both happening before the turn of the century. 

Only five schools have run under 40.80, with Fresno Central needing to clock at least 40.95 to move into the meet’s all-time top 10 programs.

Serra has run 41.11, with St. John Bosco and Clovis North also capable of grabbing the spotlight from Fresno Central, which also has big aspirations in the invitational 4x200 relay Friday.

Serra, led by junior Rodrick Pleasant, boasts the state-leading mark at 1:26.54, which ranks just outside the all-time top 10 in meet history.

Central has clocked 1:27.29 in February at the Bobbie Bass Sprint Carnival, with Long Beach Jordan prevailing March 25 in 1:27.82 at the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational in Arizona.

Primed for a fantastic finale

Although last year’s winner Riverside JW North is not entered and 2019 champion Bullis School from Maryland is not attending the meet this season, in addition to California state leader Long Beach Wilson deciding not to focus on the event, the invitational girls 4x400 relay still has amazing potential to conclude Saturday’s schedule.

Clovis North has run under 3:48 in consecutive weeks with different lineups and is embracing the challenge of competing against the deepest field it has faced this season, led by seniors Takiya Cenci and San Diego State signee Tatum Zinkin, along with sophomore Maya Cordoba and freshman Emerson Parks.

North Canyon High from Arizona arrives with a strong lineup of Joy Moorer, J’Neya Hill, Naomi Malone and Jaida Steward that has clocked 3:50.09 in March at the Brophy AMDG Invitational.

Lake Oswego from Oregon is expected to showcase three sophomores in Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Josie Donelson and Riley Ha, teaming with senior Julia Sieber.

After multiple distance relay matchups, JSerra and Niwot High of Colorado will get one more opportunity to square off, with Calabasas and Poway also expected to compete. Calabasas, led by Lahela Ray, Zoe Ray and Zanae Woods, is also entered Saturday in the invitational 4x100.

Depth on display in loaded boys DMR

Following a performance demonstrating maturity beyond its years to triumph April 1 at the Stanford Invitational, Menlo School – without a senior in its lineup – is looking forward to even bigger challenges Saturday at Arcadia.

Landon Pretre, William Floyd, Aiden Deffner and Justin Pretre clocked 10:18.83 to take over as California leaders, but Bellarmine Prep is motivated for a rematch after running 10:19.73 at Stanford, with the field also including an impressive Corona Santiago lineup from California, Arizona power Desert Vista, New Jersey program Ridgewood, New York competitors Susan Wagner, Illinois entry Lane Tech College Prep and defending champion Great Oak, which ran 10:09.66 to triumph last season.

The meet record of 9:57.88 established by Atlantic Community High of Florida has stood since 2001.

Since then, only one program has run under 10:05, with Dana Hills clocking 10:01.50 in 2009.

But there is plenty of potential for memorable moments in this event, with Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Scotts Valley also capable of placing in the top five.

Only three California programs have ever achieved sub-10 performances, with Carmichael Jesuit running a state record 9:56.3 in 1986. Dana Hills and Lompoc are the other two.

Corona Santiago has run 10:22 each of the past two seasons and has outstanding potential, led by Evan Hild, Tyler Kaan, Dylan Deloyola and Thomas Scrofano.

Desert Vista, scheduled to be anchored by Arizona Division 1 champion Noah Jodon, has the potential to smash its state all-time mark of 10:29.80 set by Gilbert High at the 1999 Arcadia Invitational.

Ridgewood maximizing all resources

The last time the meet included teams from outside California in 2019, the winner of the seeded girls 4x100-meter shuttle hurdles relay from Ridgewood High in New Jersey.

The Maroons are scheduled to compete Friday in the invitational shuttle hurdles relay against Las Vegas Centennial and Red Mountain from Arizona in a relay that might only begin to showcase Ridgewood’s versatility throughout the weekend.

Seniors Olivia Grace and Lucia Rabolli are among the athletes entered for Ridgewood in not only the 4x100 shuttle hurdles, but also the 1,600 sprint medley relay Friday, along with the distance medley relay Saturday.

The Maroons have Emma Reinke, Hannah Brodsky, Alysia Spencer and Avery Sheridan also listed as possibilities for the 4x100 shuttle hurdles relay. Brodsky, Reinke and Spencer are also entered in the 1,600 sprint medley relay, along with Celina Rabolli.

AnneMarie Tretola and Olivia Shattuck, both seniors on Ridgewood’s cross country team, are entered as part of the DMR lineup, along with Grace, Sheridan and the Rabolli sisters.

Cathedral motivated to carry on legacy

One of the most consistent California boys relay groups each season is Cathedral High from Los Angeles, and the Phantoms are expected to be busy again Friday and Saturday, scheduled to compete in four invitational relays, along with the seeded 4x100.

Cathedral is looking to defend its 4x200 relay title, in addition to pursuing victories in the 800 sprint medley, 1,600 sprint medley and invitational 4x400.

Coach Chris Mack has a strong and balanced group, with veterans William Mullins and Ekene Onwaeze returning from a lineup that won the 800 sprint medley relay and took third in the 1,600 sprint medley relay in July at The Outdoor Nationals Presented by Nike at Hayward Field.

Cathedral, competing as CA Elite Track Club, also won the 4x400 title March 12 at Nike Indoor Nationals at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, with Mullins joining Jake Preston, Matthias Allison and Ambodai Ligons to run a facility record 3:18.28.

Xavier Jordan, Devon Beckom, Santiago Orozco and freshmen Antonio Walton and Adonyss Currie are all capable of contributing for Cathedral, which is expected to face a significant challenge from Fresno Central, Long Beach Jordan and Serra in the 4x200.

The Phantoms anticipate being tested by Long Beach Poly, Long Beach Jordan and Trabuco Hills in the 800 sprint medley, as well as Long Beach Wilson, Bellarmine Prep, Servite and New York programs Iona Prep and Susan Wagner in the 1,600 sprint medley relay.

Following a runner-up finish to Long Beach Wilson last year, Cathedral will look to close out the meet with a 4x400 victory against a field that also includes Fresno Central, Long Beach Poly and St. John Bosco.

Union Catholic inspired to race best out West

Following a strong showing in March at New Balance Nationals Indoor at The Armory in New York, Union Catholic High will travel from New Jersey to Arcadia for the first time since 2019 and will do so continuing to honor the legacy of 2014 national 4x400 relay champion Jordan Jimerson, who passed away in January at age 25.

The Vikings are one of the most versatile programs in the country under coach Mike McCabe, and that is again indicated by Union Catholic being entered in 10 total relay events Friday and Saturday.

Union Catholic won the mixed 4x400 relay title June 30 at The Outdoor Nationals Presented by Nike at Hayward Field, then added a second-place finish in the girls 1,600 sprint medley relay and third-place performances in the girls 4x100 shuttle hurdles relay, 4x200 and 4x800.

The Vikings also placed third in the boys distance medley relay in Oregon.

Union Catholic is expected to have three athletes from its runner-up girls 4x800 relay indoors, with Maameyaa Nyinah, Asydiah Pray-Brown and Kaleigh Gunsiorowski all scheduled to compete.

The Vikings are also entered in the invitational sections of the girls 4x200 and 1,600 sprint medley relays, finishing in the top six in both events at New Balance Nationals Indoor.

The only boys invitational relay for Union Catholic on Friday is expected to be the 4x110 shuttle hurdles.