The Arcadia Invitational once again will bring together some of the nation’s best high school track and field athletes this weekend.
The prestigious event has featured 203 USA Olympians, including Paris gold medalists Sydney McLaughlin-Lavrone, Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin, Tara Davis-Woodhall, Masai Russell, Valerie Allman and Shamier Little. There have been 36 national records set at the Arcadia Invitational over the years.
Arcadia High School once again will be hosting the event, which is broken into three sessions across two days: the Friday Night Burnin’ Batons relays from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday’s Open session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday’s Invitational session from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Last year, nearly 4,000 athletes from 37 states and three Canadian provinces participated at the meet. This year’s competing schools includes the New Zealand Secondary School. Several Inland standouts will test themselves against the nation’s best in this year’s invitational events.
Chaparral’s Keelan Wright was one of the breakout stars of last year’s meet, as she won the invitational titles in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Wright is back to defend those titles. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the state in the 200 (23.41), and No. 14 in the state in the 100 (11.82).
Rancho Cucamonga won the boys invitational 4 x 100 relay last year, and two of the runners on that team (Cameron and Rodney Sermons) are back looking to help the Cougars win again. The Sermons brothers, Tahj Crutchfield and John Campbell have posted the state’s No. 3 time this year (40.91).
Temecula Valley’s Jack Stadlman ran a 45.69 in the 400 meters earlier this season, which ranks No. 1 in the state and No. 4 in the nation this season. Stadlman’s time was the eight-fastest in state history. He will be among the favorites to bring home the championship Saturday evening.
Su’Riah Williams of Redlands will be one to watch in the girls invitational throwing events. She has the nation’s top mark in the discus this year (173 feet, 3 inches), Williams also will compete in the invitational shot put, and she has the state’s No. 4 mark this season in that event (43-4).
Yucaipa’s Benjamin Lingenfelter will be a contender in the boys throws. He ranks No. 2 in the state and No. 8 in the nation in the discus (192-5) and No. 9 in the state in the shot put (58-9). Etiwanda’s Drew Harisay also will be competing in both boys invitational throwing event.
Elsinore’s Nicolas Alexis could challenge for the titles in the boys horizontal jumps. He ranks No. 2 in the state and No. 10 in the national in the triple jump (48-10 3/4) and No. 2 in the state in the long jump (23-2). Cajon’s Keith Cotlage is a strong contender in both of those events, too.
Murrieta Mesa’s William Bright has the state’s No. 2 time in the boys 110-meter hurdles (13.87), and Ayala’s Jenna Morales is ranked No. 2 in the state in the girls long jump this season (19-9). Riverside Poly’s Kylani Gaines has the No. 2 time in the state in the 100 hurdles (14.05).
The distance events again should produce impressive times. Great Oak’s Jack Paradise is ranked No. 3 in the state in the 800 meters (1:51.50) and Liberty’s Juan Juarez ranks No. 5 in the state (1:52.12). Woodcrest Christian’s Eyan Turk, a two-time state cross country champion, will compete in the boys invitational 3,200 meters. Riverside Poly’s 4 x 800 relay team ranks No. 2 in the state and No. 8 in the nation (7:46.93). Great Oak finished third in the 3200 relay last season and will be among the contenders this season.
On the girls side, Murrieta Valley’s Jordin Lieberman and Santiago’s Braelyn Combe will be competing in the mile, while Temescal Canyon’s Megan Crum is running the two-mile event. Santiago’s Rylee Blade, another two-time state cross country champion, is not competing in any individual events this weekend, but she is listed as a potential runner on three different relay teams (4 x 800, 4 x 1600 and distance medley).
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