Thomas and Wilson both sweep 100 and 200 crowns, with Moran doubling in discus and shot put, along with Stevenson winning long jump and triple jump; Sahlman repeats in 3,200, joining all-time marks by Engelhardt, Frias and Ince, as Moll, Gelston, Gero-Holt and Korbmacher lead way for Washington

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

ARCADIA, Calif. – No matter how athletes, coaches and spectators chose to remember Saturday night at the 54th Arcadia Invitational, each chapter and storyline seemingly became more compelling as the schedule unfolded.

Whether it was the greatest trio of girls distance performances in meet history from Dalia Frias, Sadie Engelhardt and Allison Ince, or the clutch sixth-round performances from field-event stars Cade Moran and JC Stevenson, there were several thrilling finishes to celebrate.

Or whether it was Amanda Moll holding a captive audience in her pursuit of becoming the first prep female pole vaulter to clear 15 feet and fellow Washington high school standout JaiCieonna Gero-Holt achieving a rare 6-foot high jump clearance as a freshman, there was a buzz on the infield throughout the evening.

And whether it was another reminder of the dominance of the Newbury Park boys in the 3.200 meters or the spectacular sprinting showcase delivered by Autumn Wilson and Max Thomas, the energy on the track was present from start to finish.

RESULTS | RACE VIDEOS | INTERVIEWS

Even a post-race altercation involving Fresno Central and Long Beach Wilson following the conclusion of the boys 4x400 relay was a raw reminder of the emotion and intensity attached with being an Arcadia Invitational competitor and how meaningful it is to be considered a champion at one of the elite track and field events in the country.

It was a spectacular debut at the meet for freshmen Engelhardt and Gero-Holt, becoming the only ninth-graders to prevail in their individual events against deep invitational fields.

Engelhardt, representing Ventura High, produced an age 15 world record in the girls mile, clocking 4:35.16 to eclipse the mark of 4:36.0 held by Gunvor Hilde of Norway since 1979, becoming the first ninth-grader in meet history to win the invitational title.

In addition to lowering her own freshman class national record, Engelhardt nearly took down the all-time California state mark of 4:35.06 that was set March 26 by Frias in their showdown at the Meet of Champions Distance Classic at Azusa Pacific University.

Engelhardt, who ran 4:36.63 at APU, now ranks third all-time among prep competitors in the outdoor mile, just behind Frias.

Chloe Foerster of Jesuit High set an Oregon state record by placing second in 4:40.27, followed by Newbury Park’s Samantha McDonnell in 4:40.63 and Riley Stewart of Cherry Creek producing a Colorado all-time outdoor mark of 4:40.82.

Gero-Holt became the first freshman high jump champion since Kamiya Dendy of Pendleton High in South Carolina in 2017, clearing both 5-10 (1.77m) and 6 feet (1.82m) on her third attempts.

The ninth-grader from Emerald Ridge High took attempts at a national freshman class record 6-2 (1.87m), but became only the seventh female athlete in meet history to achieve a 6-foot clearance, including the first since 2014.

Ashanti Elie of Whitney High placed second by clearing 5-10.

The final results of the pole vault competition will only showcase that Amanda Moll cleared 14-4 (4.36m), but the junior from Capital High in Washington produced two of the most compelling attempts by any prep athlete at 15 feet (4.57m).

Moll achieved the national high school, American Under-20 and World Under-18 all-time mark with her 14-9.50 (4.51m) clearance March 25 at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, but her two heartbreaking near misses Saturday confirmed she will likely become a 15-foot vaulter before the end of her junior year, if not the end of the month at Oregon Relays.

Hana Moll was second at 13-10 (4.21m).

Colin Sahlman and Frias were both able to set meet records in their respective 3,200 races and were supported by exceptional depth in both fields.

Newbury Park matched its success from last year with four athletes achieving sub-9 performances, as Sahlman joined Luke Puskedra of Judge Memorial High in Utah (2007-08) and Chris Solinsky of Stevens Point High in Wisconsin (2002-03) in repeating as 3,200 winner, eclipsing the all-time mark by clocking 8:34.99, with junior teammate Lex Young placing second in 8:35.72.

Former Newbury Park standout Nico Young ran 8:40.0 to set the meet record in 2019.

Zane Bergen of Niwot High in Colorado took third in 8:44.71, Christopher Caudillo of Clovis was fourth in 8:45.19 and Aidan Puffer of Manchester High in Connecticut finished fifth in 8:46.48.

Frias, a Duke-bound senior at Mira Costa High, ran 9:55.50 to break the 2014 meet standard of 9:55.92 held by Alexa Efraimson of Camas High in Washington, elevating to No. 7 in California prep history.

Eva Klingbeil of Niwot was second in 10:00.26, followed by Oklahoma State commit Kate Peters of Lake Oswego High in Oregon, ninth-grader Hanne Thomsen of Santa Rosa Montgomery in 10:12.03 and Ella Borsheim of Bellarmine Prep in Washington at 10:12.84.

Allison Ince of Normal Community in Illinois also took down the meet record in the girls 800 with her nation-leading 2:05.42 performance.

Ince lowered the 2019 mark of 2:06.01 produced by Dominique Mustin of North Canyon High in Arizona, with MacKenzie Browne of Riverside JW North High finishing second in 2:10.17.

There were four athletes who won multiple events, including a sweep of the 100 and 200 titles by Thomas and Wilson.

Thomas, a USC-bound senior from Servite, ran 10.40 in the 100-meter dash and clocked 20.97 in the 200.

Rashon Luke of St. John Bosco took second in the 100 in 10.45 and Long Beach Poly’s Jaelen Knox was runner-up in the 200 in 21.15.

Wilson, a Georgia signee from St. Dominic Savio in Texas, ran 11.49 and 23.68 in the 100 and 200, edging Oregon sophomore standout Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego, who clocked 11.59 and 23.78.

Moran, a Michigan-bound senior from Murrieta Mesa, finished strong in both in the invitational shot put and discus to secure both titles, edging Great Oak’s Stevenson for top field event athlete honors.

Moran added more than two feet to the national lead in the shot put with his 66-10 (20.37m) effort in the sixth round, equaling the No. 5 mark in meet history.

Aiden Pastorian of Great Oak and Nick Godbehere of Shafter both had performances of 60-3.75 (18.38m), with Pastorian placing second based on a stronger second mark.

Moran trailed entering the final throw of the discus competition after Brendon See of JSerra added 18 feet to his personal best with a sixth-round effort of 197-11 (60.32m).

But Moran remained composed and responded with a 198-4 (60.45m) throw on his final attempt to secure the title. He remains No. 2 in the country at 199-8 (60.85m).

Stevenson followed his thrilling sixth-round effort of 48-3.75 (14.72m) in the triple jump with another dramatic conclusion in the long jump.

After rallying past Elijah Yoshinaga of Elsinore, who soared out to 47-5.75 (14.47m) in the first flight of the triple jump, Stevenson only added to his lead in the long jump in the later rounds, punctuating the victory with a 24-9.50 (7.55m) performance to rank No. 3 in the country.

Yan Vazquez of Red Mountain High in Arizona also ascended to No. 3 nationally by winning the 300 hurdles in 36.40.

Andre Korbmacher of Squalicum High in Washington edged national leader Jadyn Marshall of Stockton St. Mary’s by a 13.84 to 13.87 margin in the 110 hurdles.

Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens eclipsed a state record in the mile that had stood since 1973 to prevail against Aiden Emerson of Arlington High in Washington, who ran 4:08.0.

Birnbaum clocked 4:07.88 to eclipse the previous standard of 4:07.9.

Avaunt Ortiz of McClintock High in Arizona held off Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills 47.22 to 47.26 to prevail in the 400. Christopher Goode of West Ranch achieved the fastest time in the meet by running 47.05 during the open session earlier Saturday.

Carter Cutting of Corner Canyon High in Utah triumphed by a 1:51.55 to 1:51.56 margin over Jai Dawson of Dana Hills in the 800.

Elias Gerald of Westlake High in Utah cleared 6-9 (2.05m) on his third attempt to capture the high jump crown, with Hunter O’Brien of Eastvale Roosevelt achieving a 16-9 (5.10m) clearance on his second try to earn the pole vault title.

Kylee Davis of Golden Valley emerged victorious against a deep group of challengers in the girls long jump with a wind-aided 19-10 (6.04m) effort. Caelyn Harris of Upland was second at 19-9 (6.01m).

Alyssa Hope of Martin Luther King won the girls triple jump at 40-3.25 (12.27m), with Jada Gatlin of Mission Viejo taking second at 39-10 (12.15m).

Kennedy Clarke of Cathedral Catholic added to her state lead in the girls shot put with a 44-6.50 (13.57m) effort in the sixth round after placing third in the discus with a throw of 144-5 (44.01m).

Katelynn Gelston of Hanford High in Washington produced a 156-foot throw (47.54m) to win the discus and secured sixth overall in the shot put at 40-7 (12.36m).

Jasmine Harmon of Westlake High in Georgia not only won the 100 hurdles by a 13.78 to 13.82 margin over Aaliyah McCormick of Scripps Ranch, but she also contributed to a nation-leading 4x100 relay, teaming with Imari Johnson, Madyson Wilson and Colleen Branch to clock 45.59.

Joy Moorer of North Canyon won the girls 300 hurdles in 41.99, with Kapiolani Coleman of Cathedral Catholic clocking 42.19 and Neya Jamison of Chaparral High in Arizona running 42.34 after winning the seeded 100 hurdles in 14.53.

Takiya Cenci of Clovis North triumphed in the 400 in 54.15, with Naomi Johnson of Eastvale Roosevelt running 54.29. Cenci helped Clovis North build an early lead in the 4x400 relay, but Long Beach Wilson rallied to edge the Broncos by a 3:48.34 to 3:48.49 margin.

JSerra completed an exceptional two-day schedule by defending its title in the distance medley relay, with Ashlee Gallegos, Hanna Barmettler, Georgia Jeanneret and Anastasia Snodgrass running 11:49.24. 

JSerra also had a second lineup win the open section in 12:06.89, which would have placed fifth in the invitational race. Dana Hills was second in 12:00.48.

JSerra, which also won the 4x800 and had a pair of teams place third and fourth in the 4x1,600 relay, also secured sixth overall in the 4x400 in 3:56.86.

Corona Santiago won the boys DMR in 10:13.30, with Evan Hild, Thomas Scrofano, Dylan Deloyola and Tyler Kaan helping the Sharks hold off Vista Murrieta (10:16.71) and Menlo (10:17.18).

Desert Vista finished sixth in 10:20.34, but ran an Arizona state record.

Fresno Central won the 4x100 by matching its state lead at 40.92 and crossed the finish line first in 3:16.02 in the 4x400, with Long Beach Wilson clocking 3:21.52.

But following the post-race scuffle, both teams were disqualified and Cathedral was recognized as the winner in 3:18.95.