ARCADIA CA 4/11/03 -- Incredible matchups and talent may lead to the best Arcadia ever, which is saying something.

The Arcadia banner at the headquarters hotel this year features two boys and two girls. The boys, Alan Webb and Ryan Hall, celebrate the mile of 2001, when Webb turned on the afterburner in the last 200 meters and toasted Hall and the Jeffersons in one of the most memorable races ever at Arcadia, with Webb at 4:01.81 and four more under 4:10. The girls, Allyson Felix and Shalonda Solomon, both from the Los Angeles area, perhaps foretell a memorable sub-23 200 this year threatening Marion Jones' meet record of 22.87 and even her national record of 22.58.

Meanwhile, Stevens Point WI sr Chris Solinsky, whose 8:48.44 3200m here was the fastest of 2002, is back in what may be the best race of the meet (check the chat room at 9:12 pm Pacific time Saturday for DyeStat's live call of the race via "steveu"). The Foot Locker Cross Country national champion is accompanied by 9 other runners who were at San Diego, so there could be a finish to match last year, when six broke the 9-minute barrier and seven more were under 9:10.

Last week's MVP's at Mobile will both be here. Xavier Carter FL is entered in the 100, 200 and 400; he doubled 21.08 and 45.88 at Mobile, and he also has 10.49 and 20.82 clockings under his belt this season. Ashlee Brown CA rests her case on her 13.86 / 42.67 hurdle double at Mobile.

The best events are those where California is challenged by national stars. California athletes will not be overshadowed by national stars in the girls sprint relays, which feature city rivals Wilson and Poly, who may be 1-2 in the nation as well as Long Beach. They are joined by burners from Willingboro NJ and West Catholic, Philadelphia PA. In the 4x1600, the Trotter Twins' Red Bank Regional NJ squad returns to defend its 2002 title. Poly star Shalonda Solomon will run against Allyson Felix in the 100. Wilson star Ashley Freeman will run in the open 800. Willingboro star Okechi Ogbuokiri will run the open 400. West Catholic star Nicole Leach will run the 400m and 300H.

Other notables are too numerous to list, but they include Megan Kaltenbach CO (2-time winner of the 3200 here is dropping to the 1600 this year against the Katy and Amanda Trotter); Heidi Magill (2:06.34 800m, winner here last year in fastest time of 2002); Billie Jo Grant CA (183-6 DT); Sharon Day CA (6-2 HJ); Mike Morrison NJ (7-4.25 HJ and 24-0.75 LJ, Nike Indoor champion in both); Brittany Daniels CA (42-7w TJ); Donovan Kilmartin ID (17-3.5 PV); Kira Costa CA (13-4.5 PV, national indoor record); Julene Bailey ID (13-3 PV); Nik Kay CA (199-4 DT); Leif Arrhenius UT (brother of Nik Arrhenius, who set the national DT record here 2 years ago); Alex Tatu VA and Joaquin Chapa OR in the mile; J-Mee Samuels NC in the 100 and 200 (21.76, Nike Indoor champ); Katie Harrington IN (3200, second in both 1600 and 3200 at Nike Indoor); J.W. North CA's Lena Bettis and Gayle Hunter, 1-2 in LJ at Mobile; multi talented Amy Menlove UT; Natasha Hastings NY (200, 400); Darren Woods WA (47.99 400m indoors); Steve Huntzinger VA (63-7 SP indoors); Thomas Mack CA 13.92w / 37.28 hurdler, California champion in both events last year).

Nike athletes Alan Webb, Regina Jacobs, and Felix Sanchez will be on hand for autographs and photo ops.

Weather forecast: high in 60s, cooling to the 50s after dark. Rain late Saturday night.

The boys 3200 has grown exponentially in prominence the last few years, always providing a multitude of runners a chance to dip under the often elusive mark of 9:00. Defending champion Chris Solinksy of Steven's Point (Wisc.) returns to defend his title, but will likely face a stiff challenge from reigning mile king Bobby Curtis of St. Xavier (Louisville, Kent.). The race features a slew of Foot Locker National Cross Country finalists and four of those top five finishers in Solinsky, Curtis, Indiana's Nef Araia and North Carolina's Matt DeBole.

The boys 400 features two runners who have already surpassed the meet record of 46.23, making this event one to watch. Palm Bay (Fla.) junior Xavier Carter sprinted to nation-leading marks of 45.88 (400) and 21.08 (200) last week, though an expected showdown against national indoor champion Reggie Witherspoon never materialized. Both are slated to run here with Witherspoon having already run 46.11 indoors. California's finest in the event will also be present, led by University City senior DeSean Cunningham, who ran 47.90 two weeks ago. Carter will triple Saturday, trying his luck at the 100 as well, where he will face the precocious J-Mee Samuels of Mt. Tabor in North Carolina. Samuels clocked 10.42 as a freshman and has started 2003 will equally impressive numbers. Rounding out the field are California's finest, including Helix's Reggie Bush and Long Beach Poly junior Derrick Jones. The boys 200 features the best of the short and long sprinters with Carter, Witherspoon, Dominguez's Lionel Larry and Samuels expected to toe the line.

Arroyo Grande's Billie Jo Grant has had a smashing start to her season, steadily climbing up the all-time lists, recently tossing the discus 183 feet, 6 inches to come within whispering distance of Suzy Powell's U.S. high school record of 188-4. The meet record of 180-2 is in serious jeopardy. San Clemente's Kate Hutchinson, recently over 170 feet, and Centennial Bakersfield's Missy Faubus have also been throwing well this year. In the shot put ring, Grant and teammate Megan Howard will go up against Laguna Creek's Jessica Pressley, who has been inching closer to 50 feet and may just do it here. In the girls high jump, it was a freshman who was making all the noise early, but Costa Mesa senior Sharon Day has the most buzz following a clearance of 6-2 last weekend. The meet record of 6-0 will be threatened not just by Day, but possibly freshman Desiree Gonder of Stockdale, who has cleared 5-10 this year. Fellow central Californian LaShay Bagsby of South Bakersfield is another great jumper. Merrill West's Brittany Daniels has exploded in the triple jump in recent weeks, posting a nation-leading mark of 41-9 before hitting a wind-aided 42-7 last weekend that ranks among the top 20 jumps in U.S. history. She faces a deep field that includes Skyline's Renee Williams, San Diego Serra's Sparkle Anderson and J.W. North's Gayle Hunter. Williams is the favorite in the long jump after posting a wind- legal mark of 19-10 two weeks ago, but will be pushed by Hunter, who was well over 20 feet in a wind-aided performance recently and a pair of freshman, Long Beach Poly's Shana Woods and Vista del Lago's DeAna Carson. Over in the long jump pit, Morse senior Demetrius Westbrooks has already threatened 24 feet this year, but will face a stiff field, led by Mike Morrison of Willingboro (NJ), better known for his high jump exploits. Desert senior Rudy Burgess and San Diego Serra junior Vinnie Weathers also have big-meet experience. Idaho's Donovan Kilmartin is likely the best multi-event prep athlete in recent in history, making a vault appearance here as a precursor to the national decathlon record in the days to come. Having cleared 17 feet last year, Kilmartin is a heavy favorite, but Brandon Glenn (Westview, Ariz.), Gavin McMahon (Fordham Prep) and Hong Nguyen (Katella) all are 16-footers or within striking distance of the plateau

The Helix boys relays team have been making noise this season with the addition of 400 star Deun White. A budding rivalry with University City (San Diego) and Long Beach Poly could produce the year's first sub-41 second time. Dominguez and Bakersfield are always strong. Many of the same teams will face off in the 1600 relay with Serra of Gardena and Santa Margarita added to the mix.

With one national record in the bag, San Joaquin Memorial's Kira Costa looks to add the outdoor record in the pole vault to her indoor mark set in Los Angeles earlier this year. Already over 13 feet indoors and out, Costa will face off against Idaho's Julene Bailey with the Skyview senior looking to improve her best of 13-2. The boys discus features several big throwers with big marks thus far in 2003. Nik Kay leads California with his toss of 189- 7 1/2, but faces a great field including Indio's Greg Garza (another 180-footer), Jason Perkins of Mountain Ridge (Ariz.) and Lief Arrhenius of Mountain View (Utah). Lief's older brother Nik owns the national record of 234-4, set here two years ago.

Having twice captured the win a win in the girls 3200, Smoky Hill (Colo.) senior Megan Kaltenbach decided to step down in distance to run the 1600 Saturday against a very good field. Murrieta Valley's Liza Pascuito has been one of Southern California's best runners the last three years while the Trotter twins, Katy and Amanda, had excellent cross country seasons. Part of the Red Bank Regional (NJ) powerhouse, the Trotters were half of the team that set the 6400 relay meet record last year. The boys mile has brings runners from across the country (and continent) is pursuit of a low-4:00 time. Though Curtis will run the 3200, the field, led by Klamath Union (Ore.) senior Lauren Jespersen is still national-class. Jespersen has a personal best of 3:50 in the 1500 and in-state rival Joaquin Chapa of Grant has gone 4:10 indoors. Eduardo Pasko of Harrison (Colo.) and Alex Tatu of North Carolina are also worth watching. Rio Mesa's Phillip Reid, the national leader in the 3200, is California's top entrant.

Bakersfield's Thomas Mack has been California's dominant hurdler the last two years, but don't expect Dominguez's Craig Woods to defer to the defending state champion. Both have run in the low 14s this season as have James Logan super soph Kevin Craddock and St. Mary's Jason Bolden-Anderson. Woods and Mack are also the top two entrants in the 300 hurdles. Traditional state powers provide nearly all of the entrants in the fastest heat of the girls 100 hurdles final. North (Riverside) senior Ashlee Brown owns the fastest time in the country at 13.86, but a solid field including teammate Domenique Manning, Long Beach Wilson's MacKenzie Hill and defending California state champion Talia Stewart of James Logan should make this a very competitive race.

With junior and defending California state champion Michael Haddan of Woodbridge on the mend, the spotlight turns to runner- up Duane Solomon of Cabrillo in the boys 800. Solomon has already split 1:51.1 in the event, but will face a deep field that includes Brian Rodie of Royal (1:52.89), Tim Freeman of Bainbridge (Wash.), Vallejo's Andrew Dawson and Kenny Frank of Enterprise. After posting a dominating win over a great field in the girls 800 last year, all that's left for Mountain View's Heidi Magill is chase the clock. The Utah star ran 2:06.43 last year to set the meet record in 2002 and may find sophomore teammate Heidi Houle to be the toughest competition. Merrill West's Alexis Bartschi and Long Beach Wilson's Ashley Freeman have run well thus far among Californians. Even if Kaltenbach passes on the 3200 (she's entered), sister Katelyn could make it three in a row for the family, but will have to get past San Pasqual's Claire Rethmeier, who has run under 10:40 and 5:00 so far this season and Amanda Trotter. The hottest new distance talent in America could be Indiana's Katy Harrington, who put down a stellar 10:31/5:51 indoor double in March.

James Logan's Angelo Jeffrey owns California's best mark in the boys triple jump at 48-9, but has missed several meets of late, possibly leaving the door open for Cimarron-Memorial (Nev.) senior Rayland Currie or Downey junior Rolando Felizola. John Caufield has been right around 60 feet so far this year in the shot pu (then 62-4 last weekend), making the La Salle senior the favorite in the event Saturday. Arrhenius and Tomas Navarro of Highland (Gilbert, Ariz.) are among the other top entrants.

Southern California sprint powers North, Long Beach Poly and Wilson all have entrants in the fastest heat of the 300 hurdles. Ashlee Brown of North owns the fastest time in the United States, but will be pushed by Hill of Long Beach Wilson, Domenique Manning of North and Leach of West Catholic. North churns out national-class hurdlers like no other program on the West Coast and are heavy favorites in the shuttle hurdles relay. Muir High of nearby Pasadena, which owns the national record in this event, features Andranicka Fomby and Annisa Faquir helping chase North in search of those winner's watches at Arcadia!

Opposite ends of the nation will be well represented in the girls 800 relay. West Catholic of Philadephia has already posted among America's better indoor times this winter, with Oregon powerhouse Benson Poly returning to Arcadia after a multi-year hiatus, bringing a fine crew down powered by Ashley Taylor and Sara Collier! New York area power Bishop Loughlin rolls into town fresh off a very fine third-place showing at the recent National Scholastic Indoor Championships in the 3200 relay (9:14.21), with the East Coast crew headed by amazing frosh phenom Janean Morris (2:11.8). Long Beach Poly should kick off another weekend assault on the national lists here, with Shantae McKinney and Gabrielle Bournes among those on board for those mighty Jackrabbits! Red Bank Regional of New Jersey and Sultana (Hesperia) of Southern California are among a long list of the mega-foursomes assembled here in the 6400 relay, with Red Bank following the lead of popular twins Amanda and Katy Trotter and the Sultans answering with Kelsey DeLaGardelle and Danielle Varela for a crew finishing among the top three in the final 2002 national cross-country rankings! Catalina Foothills (AZ) and Harvard- Westlake of Southern California are two other squads oozing with notable talent! Willingboro of New Jersey aims to shred the school 1600 sprint medley record 4:00.71 set by last year's squad, with it being well on pace after a sizzling 4:01.41 clocking indoors last month! Only two New Jerseys schools (Columbia and Shabazz) have ever dipped under four minutes in this exciting event! Western of Anaheim, featuring California blazer Carol Rodriguez, and Inglemoor of Washington are those figuring prominently within the chase pack! The national outdoor record of 1:42.0 in the 800 sprint medley could take a beating tonight! Long Beach Poly and Long Beach Wilson bring their best collections ever into this event, where no race in history at this distance has ever produced three sub- 1:44.0 clockings. But with Poly (led by All-American candidates Shalonda Solomon and Dominique Dorsey and Simplot Games indoor deuce champ Jasmine Lee) and Wilson (powered by MacKenzie Hill and Ashley Freeman) being challenged by James Logan HS of Northern California (with Cheri Craddock and frosh find Kristina Davis on board), this one's going to rock! Teams from opposite ends of the country look to challenge for the win in the boys shuttle hurdles relay . Fordham Prep of New York, which proved to be among the most balanced programs in the country during the recent indoor season, has Clark Palicka leading its crew while age-14 national 400-meter hurdles record holder Kevin Craddock puts James Logan HS of Northern California in fine position to challenge. Both Muir and Lynwood have a deep cast or hurdlers to tab each as serious contenders! Helix of La Mesa and Poly of Long Beach are two Southland California powers quite capable of being America's best in the 800 relay. Helix is led by all-everything football stud Reggie Bush (10.49w), Deun White and Darryl Hutsona, but Poly has Derrick Jones and Rodney Van in its arsenal as the California all-time best (1:24.35 by Long Beach Poly in 1999) figures to be in the crosshairs! Could it be Bush vs. Jones on anchor??? Wow! The 3200 relay titlists from the recent National Scholastic Indoor Championships are coming westward.... and they might not even be the favorites! Fordham Prep of New York scorched to a 7:50.36 clocking to claim the NSIC title, but the following weekend a quartet from Murrieta Valley (California) totalled a stunning cumulative time of 7:45 and change in 800M open races! The one-year-old meet record of 7:53-plus is going down! Keep an eye on Long Beach Poly -- they own the record and won't relinquish it easily! This could become the greatest 4x1600 clash in California history as Southern Section powers Don Lugo of Chino and Loyola of Los Angeles finally square off! Don Lugo, with 4:18/1600m talent Erick Maldonado, has already run 17:40.46 for the four- mile relay indoors, with Loyola having five at sub-4:30 for 1600 -- including sophomore Mark Matusak and senior David Torrence each at sub-9:06 for 3200! It's their only showdown this year, so full bragging rights are up for grabs in determining the best distance program within the Golden State! Long Beach Poly and Orange are two other national-class programs featured here! Will Fordham Prep be able to run away with the boys sprint medley? Mixing a great balance of sprint and middle distance (including a 10:19.38 indoor distance medley relay effort) talent, the New York-based juggernaut should topple the meet record 3:31.15 with clean exchanges and a bit of competitive heat from their adversaries! Bishop O'Dowd, with Tim Wallach on the two-lap anchor and Jon Iglehart at 200m, is another outstanding crew!