by Doug Speck
co-editor, DyeStatCal

Invitational Boy’s Discus
A bombing group is between 185 feet and just under 200, with this competition annually bringing out the best in the elite platter crew–the National Prep All-Time best of 234-03 by Niklas Arrenius (Utah) was set here in 2001, with three other National Records established in this event through the years with the Boys and Girls throwers at Arcadia. Bo Taylor (Newport Harbor) was 197-11 last weekend, with Cameron Carter (Mayfair, Lakewood) second in that competition at Surf City at 193-03. Carter had foot foul at 206-05 in the meet there! Darius Savage (Morse, San Diego) has cranked 196-11 this spring, with Nick Robinson (El Toro) at 190 feet. Washington’s Korion Morris (Renton) was 195-03 last year. Whew! Certainly worth arriving early for!!!

Invitational Boy’s Long Jump
David Klech (California, San Ramon), the nation’s top all-around athlete, just off a multi-event win in the Nike Indoor Championships in Maryland, will compete in this event, among others this weekend! Klech was 24-07.75 in this event last year (with 13.94 HH, 36.06 IH, 51.28 400mIH, and 7-00.75 HJ efforts on other parts of the facility). David was super here in 2005 with 14.13 and 36.28 hurdle wins. The Bay area star only pulls out the long socks for the “big” meets so expect the high-bounding UCLA bound star to pop something here to-night! Ashton Eaton (Mountain View, Bend, Or) has powered 23-11 indoors and 23-05.75 outdoors in chilly Oregon this spring already, so he should be ready for something big. Zuheir Sharif (Franklin, Elk Grove) was 23-10.75 last year, with a Triple Jump of over 50 feet already this spring! Josh Harrison (Rio Mesa, Oxnard) is the latest star from his school, with a startling 23-05 already as an eleventh grader. Super soph Nelson Rosario (El Camino, Oceanside) was the San Diego Section champ last year as a frosh at 23-02.75! Erick Quick (Liberty, Bakersfield) was over 23-00 this winter indoors.

Invitational Boys Pole Vault
The sky is the limit here! Scott Roth and his teammate Ryan Shuler (Granite Bay) have taken the last three California State titles in the event, with Roth moving to #4 All-Time US indoors this winter with his 17-04.25 Nike Indoor Nationals win a few weeks back, and Ryan over 16-00 this spring! The duo will have huge competition this evening. Alex Bentley (Tomball, Texas) has skied 16-10, with super all-around star, Kyle Mills-Bunje (St. Francis, Mountain View) 16-06. Greg Woepse (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) is at 16-02, with super soph Shea Kearney (Desert Vista, Az) 16-00.75 this winter indoors! Casey Roche (St. Francis, Mountain View) joined the 16-foot group two weeks back, with Johnny Quinn (St. Margaret’s, San Juan Capistrano) poised to join at 15-09. Another event where you have to really earn your trip to the awards area for a medal!!

Boys Invitational High Jump
Close to ten in the field have cleared 6-09 or better! Phil Feinberg (Corona del Sol, Az) was 6-10 last year as a soph, with consistent Alex Black, the lastest from that super family of High Jumpers at Downey HS, also a 6-10 leaper! Trent Arrivey (Woodinville) is the top High Jumper in Washington at 6-10, with the latest great jumper from North, Riverside Tim Sebastian (6-10). Missouri State Champ Dustin Andrews (Lee’s Summit) fills out the 6-10 leapers aiming at 7-00 here!! Terrence Austin and Nicholas Armstrong, both of Long Beach Poly, with Armstrong the 6-09 winner her last year and Terrence recently clearing that mark indoors, will be in the trophy hunt! Chase Thomas (Lutheran, Orange) has cleared 6-09, with Branon Adams (San Ramon Valley) marking a rare win over David Klech (California) in this event at 6-08 a few weekends back.

Girls Invitational Triple Jump
This is another event where you can sit back and watch some of the nation’s best go at it!! Ke’Nyia Richardson (Holy Names) is on a tear her junior year, with a 42-02.25 National Scholastic indoor win that is US prep history’s #6 effort ever!! She is facing some fierce competition, with Ashika Charan (Claremont) a quarter inch behind Richardson when they met at the Simplot Indoor games (Ashika 41-10 there). Tracey Stewart (Logan, Union City) had the nation’s #3 jump indoors this winter with a super 41-03.25 (the #15 US prep ever), wtih Kimarie Black (Poly, Long Beach) 39-08.5 for third behind Richardson and Stewart at the National Scholastic Indoor meet with the nation’s #5 jump indoors for the winter season! 39-footers abound in this field, with Jessica Cooper (Poly, Long Beach) 39-07.25, Taylor Nichols (Stockdale, Bakersfield) 39-04.5, Jamesha Youngblood (Hercules) 39-03.5, Kaile Wilson (Smoky Hill, Aurora, Colo) 39-03, Jessica Barfield (Lynwood) 39-02.75, and Amanda Hunter (Marlborough, LA) 39-01 making this another tough one to earn a medal, much less make the finals in the jumping!!

Girls Invitational Discus
Another dynamite crew will compete here! The Sarah’s lead, with Sarah Robles (San Jacinto) looking for competition with a great start to her season that includes a 153-01 in drizzly weather! Sarah Cardinal (Blackfoot, Idaho) was also out over 150 feet last year at 150-08, amd with a two foot improvement on her Shot Put best indoors this winter out to 45-01 she should be ready to loft the discus into new territory! A good group will challenge the first two! Whitney Hooks (Cascade, Everett, Wash) is among the top dozen returnees nationally at 146-04, and a four-time state champ in the Shot and Discus. Jeannette McConnell is the latest Saugus weight star, with a 145-06 here in dual action. Hilary Fraser (El toro) is 144-05 in winning by a mile, with Kaitlin Gardiner (Rio Mesa, Oxnard) winning our “most improved award” (so far) with her 143-05 already. Ala Faagai (Huntington Beach) has been out to 141-05, with Jameena Hunt (Morse) the best from San Diego at 140-02. Depth, Depth, Depth!

Invitational Girl’s Pole Vault
Another stunning group on the field! Ten twelve-footers will make it one of prep history’s greatest ever competitions! Allison Stokke (Newport Harbor) is steadily cranking it up this spring, with a 13-00 best. Tori Anthony (Castilleja, Palo Alto) won over Stokke (on misses) and the field in the National Scholastic Indoor Meet in New York last month, and has also cleared 13-00 this year. Jaci Perryman (Desert Vista, Az) has sailed over 12-09.5, with Natahsa Barthel also rated among the nation’s top ten at 12-09. Virginia State Champ Ashley Early (Western Albemarle, Crozet) has a 12-07 best, with Taylor Franklin (St. Francis Vault Tech, Mountain View) a 12-06 clearance! Liza Lozovatskaya (St. Ignatius, San Francisco) was the Mt. Pleasant Invite winner at 12-04, with Tori Pena (Edison, Huntington Beach 12-03 this spring. Stephanie Bagan (Granite Bay) 12-06 and Lyndly Tamura (Huntington Beach) 12-03 from last year give this event unreal depth.

Invitational Men’s Shot Put
A potent group will battle here on the newly laid out Shot Put facility at Arcadia. Cameron Elisara (Ferris, Spokane, Washington) has thrown 61-09 as one of the nation’s best defensive lineman in football (he’s staying close to home at Univ Washington-land for college). Nick Robinson (El Toro) has improved to an impressive 61-02 this spring already, with his future UCLA teammate Darius Savage (Morse, San Diego) out to 60-03 (Coach Dorrel plans on Darius on the defensive side of the ball also in the Fall). Korion Morris (Renton, Wash) is a 60-05 thrower (Arizona bound for track-Pac 10-ville in this event!) With Joseph Fraijo (St. Mary’s, Stockton) knocking on the 60 foot door with a 59-10 best while winning by a mile locally! Utah’s best is Colin Boevers (Judge Memorial, Salt Lake City) 58-06, with super soph, Drew Gordon (Archbishop Mitty, San Jose) out to 58-03 already this spring!

Invitational Girl’s High Jump
Another great group will battle here! Defending champion Desirae Gonder (Stockdale, Bakersfield) is the defending State Champion with a 5-10 best. Very competitive Jasimine Day (Costa Mesa) was state runner-up last June at 5-09, with Amber Kaufman (Branham, San Jose), dashing over from here to jump from a Southern California Volleyball Tourney (she is headed to the University of Hawaii to play that sport and jump in track!) has cleared 5-10.5 this winter and is looking to go higher! Kelli Johnson (San Marcos, Santa Barbara) has been a pleasant surprise, with a 5-08 clearance already this spring with Kelsey Rubeor (Murrieta Valley) a 5-07 seasonal best.

Invitational Men’s Triple Jump
Some bombers on top here! Zuheir Sharif (Franklin, Elk Grove) has already been over 50 feet at 50-01 this spring, with Richard Sherman (Dominguez, Compton) a best of 49-05.75. The duo was 2-5 in last June’s State Meet, with Charles Amadi (Edison, Fresno) splitting them in third with a 2005 seasonal best of 48-01. Erick Quick (Liberty, Bakersfield) was 48-10 indoors and is coming back from injury. Josh Como (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley) is 48-05 on the season (48-07 2005), and was sixth in last year’s State competition. Marquan Jackson (Poly, Long Beach) surprised with a fourth in the National Scholastic Indoor and has been out to 47-07 this spring, with Neelon Greenwood (Fairlfield) nice improvement out to 47-00 this season.

Invitational Girl’s Long Jump
Another talented group of jumpers as good as you will see anywhere in the nation this spring season. Ashika Charan (Claremont) is one of the nation’s top all-around athletes, with a fourth in the State Long Jump last June (and fourth in the Triple Jump and sixth in the 300m hurdles). Charan has a 19-10.75 best in this event and is a fierce competitor. Karyn Dunn (Diamond Ranch, Pomona) was the nation’s top middle school jumper last year at 19-02, and she is rounding into shape. Vashti Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose) improved out to 19-02 a couple of weeks back, with Colorado’s Kaile Wilson (Smoky Hill, Aurora) 19-01 in the event. Danialle Watson (Carson) was eighth in last year’s state meet and has jumped 18-11 this spring, with Lauren Reid (Rio Mesa, Oxnard) back from serious 2005 injury to power out to that same 18-11 distance in meets this year. Jessica Barfield (Lynwood) adds to quality depth with her 18-10 jump, with Logan’s Tracey Stewart 18-09.75 indoors this winter.

Invitational Girls Shot Put
Whitney Hooks (Cascade, Turner, Wash) is the nation’s #3 returnee at a big 49-02, and a three time defending Washington State 3A champ in the event. Erin Delaney (Paso Robles) popped a 47-02, the nation’s #3 throw for the 2006 season a week back in a dual and she will face a top group. Sarah Cardinal (Blackfoot, Idaho) had a lifetime best this winter indoor season of 45-01, with Miranda Wilson (Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland) another with a strong “undercover” season with a fourth from the National Scholastic Indoor and early outdoor lifetime best of 44-06. Florida Siaosi (Sultana, Hesperia) was fourth at state with a 44-02.75 best last year. Sarah Robles (San Jacinto) has been out to 43-07 this spring, with improved Jeannette McConnell (Saugus) 43-06.75. Colleen Lenahan (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) is 42-10 this year, with soph Stephanie Aliimatafitafi (Pparamount) 42-03 as of late. Jalesa Jeffery (Logan, Union City) was seventh in last year’s State meet and has a 42-01 seasonal bes, with Chidimma Onyewuenyi (Oak Grove, San Jose) at that same 42-01 mark to help give this event impressive depth.

Men’s Invitatonal 4x100 Meter Relay
Taft and Long Beach Poly raced to the wire to start the 2005 Arcadia Invitational, with the Poly Jackrabbits winning by an eyelash. Jamere Holland and his team certainly want revenge in 2006, with a great field to back up the front two squads. Lincoln (Stockton) has Devin Mays (10.48 nation’s #3 returne behind Holland’s 10.38 best in county), Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) a great crew led by Roodney Glass (#2 dasher in the country back at 10.43), with James Logan a dangerous crew also.

Women’s Invitatonal 4x100 Meter Relay
James Logan raced US Prep History’s #2 4x200 relay indoors at 1:36.41, with a 46.89 outdoors this year for the 4x1 crew led by top dasher Kristina Davis. Rancho Cucamonga won here last year at 46.64 with a top group returning. Long Beach Poly has a very dangerous young group of dashers who have raced 47.65, with Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 47.49 along the way this year. JW North (Riverside) has run 47.91 and is capable of much quicker!

Women’s Invitational Mile Run
This is another distance classic! Defending State Champ over 1600 meters, Annie St. Geme (Corona del Mar) who was 4:51.00 last year for full mile, led her Fall cross-country team to a high national ranking and has had a good spring so far! Marie Lawrence (Reno, Nev) was 4:48.32 for a mile with a win over St. Geme in last year’s Golden West Invitational, and was runner-up once again at the National Cross Country title run in December! State 1600 runner-up, Alex Kosinski (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) was a National Cross Country Finalist and has run 4:48.37 for 1600 meters. Shannon Murakami (Saugus) had a 4:51.08 in the wind two weeks back and a series of amazing doubles and triples in duals this season. From famed Saratoga Springs, New York program come Lindsey Ferguson (4:52.68 indoors this winter for a mile), and Hannah Davidson (4:57.73 undercover this past season). Nicole Cochran (Bellarmine Prep, Wash), the school that supplied impressive 2005 Arcadia winner Brie Felnagle, was 4:51.97 for a mile last year as the nations’ quickest ninth grader, with Chantelle Groenewould (British Columbia, Canada) a sub-5:00 miler from north of the border!

Men’s Invitational Mile Run
One of the meet’s highlighted events features a rematch between Michael Coe (Cabrillo, Lompoc), who ran 4:07.30 indoors and Irish star Ciaran O’Lionard (De la Salle College Prep, Ireland), a 3:48.72 1500m star who was second to Coe indoors at 4:09 for a mile. A ton of other flyers will make the race very, very interesting, with Mohamud Ige (South, Denver) 4:11.97, Daniel Roberts (Crested Butte, Colo) 4:09.45, Rob Sorrell (Bolton, Tenn) 4:12.71, Andy Bean (Somers, NY) 4:16.32 this winter, and Adam McDonald (Mountain View, Utah), a Canyon HS (CC) transplant 4:16.33 indoors this winter. A great California group adds to the mix, with Mike Perez (Lower Lake) a 4:13.3 mile two weeks ago, Cory Primm (Westlake) a 3:56.31 1500 two weeks back, State 3200 champ Michael Cybulski (Royal, Simi Valley) a 3:58.76 1500 in late March, and Dylan Knight (La Sierra, Riverside0 4:14.62 last year over 1600 meters. With a good pace this event will fly!!!

Men’s 110 Meter High Hurdles Invitational
Super all-arounder David Klech (California, San Ramon), the defending champion here at 14.13, has real determination to prove that he is a special high hurdler this campaign. With Terry Prentice (Diamond Ranch, Pomona), a 24 foot Long Jumper, who blazed 13.4w a week and a half back it appears David will have to really work here. A great group will challenge the top duo, with Cylend Simmons (Westwood, Mesa, Az) that state’s top this spring at 14.26, and Zion Babb (Alhambra) a ton of good clockings already and a 14.48 winner at Surf City two weekends back.

Girls’ 100 Meter Hurdles Invitational
Jacquelyn Coward (West, Knoxville, Tenn) was the nation’s top frosh short hurdler last year with a cranking 13.67 clocking, and she will face a top field of Californians, led by 2005 State runner-up Kimyon Broom (Serra, Gardena) 13.74 and Ke’Nyia Richardson (Holy Names, Oakland) 13.75. Shana Woods (Poly, Long Beach) was 14.00 last year, with Julian Purvis (St. Elizabeth, Oakland) 14.05 and third in the National Scholastic Indoor over the 60 meter barrier distance (Coward was the winner there). Krystal Cantey (Winslow Township, NJ) 14.14 and Vashti Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose) 14.16 here to win last year’s seeded race, fill out a spetacular barrier-hopping group!!

Boys’ Invitational 100 meter dash
Jamere Holland (Taft, Woodland Hills) is the top returning dasher in the nation, with a 10.38 best from last spring. He will be challenged by the nation’s #2 returnee, San Fernando Valley buddy Rodney Glass (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 10.43, and the #4 athlete in the US back in Devin Mays (Lincoln, Stockton) 10.48. Others who will battle for awards are Dax Danns (Helix, La Mesa) 10.60, Cameron Island (Skyline, Oakland) 10.63, Brandon Saine (Piqua, Ohio) 10.65, and Isaiah Green (Poly, Long Beach) 10.68. What a group!!

Girls Invitational 100 meter dash
A bombing group of Californians is joined by Peoria, Arizona’s Kenyanna Wilson , who was 11.64 to win the Chandler Invite in her state two weeks back. Kenyanna had the equal fastest time in the nation last year for preps under any conditions with an 11.38. Jeneba Tarmoh (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose) was third in the National Scholastic Indoors in mid-March with a strong 7.39 and has run 11.8 outdoors this spring. Kristina Davis (Logan, Union City) was fifth in the NSIC 60 Finals, and 11.56 last year as the NCS Champ. Khrystal Carter (Valley Christian, San Jose) was sixth in the NSIC 60 and leads the state outdoors this spring at 11.81 for 100 meters. Do not forget about defending champion here, Yasmin Woodruff (St. Mary’s, Inglewood), who had a super frosh year on the way to a state runner-up effort. Cherrelle Garrett (Mt. Eden, Hayward) was the Golden West Champ last June in a shocking 11.44w clocking, with Saravia Richardson (North, Riverside) an 11.91 in winning San Diego’s Mt. Carmel Invite in March.

Boys Invitational 800 Meters
A good group will race here, led by State Champion Jesse O’Brien (San Pasqual, Escondido) 1:53.19, who is looking for a fast early pace this weekend. Cory Primm (Westlake) was 1:51.65 here for second last year and has a good 2006 start! Mohamud Ige (South, Denver, Colo) was 1:53.24 last year, with Ryan Gamboa (Upland) fourth in the State meet last June at 1:54.17. Richard Jones (Benicia) was last year’s Sac Joaquin Section titlest at 1:53.79, with Justin Reed (Loyola, LA) 1:54.48, and junior Ryan Styrk (Seattle Prep, Seattle, Wa) 1:54.67 helping to make this a deep and talented field.

Girls Invitational 800 Meters
Defending Champion Latavia Thomas (West Catholic, Philadelphia) is the nation’s fastest returnee off her 2:06.97 from last April here. Four California State Finalists will lead the challenge against the east coast star. Kate Grace (Marlborough, LA) was third at the State Meet last June with a 2:11.30 best from her Southern Section win, with state fourth placer Haley Lawrence (Aliso Niguel, Aliso Viejo) 2:12.28, fifth placer Lea Wallace (Vintage, Napa) 2:12.47, and eighth placer from State in 2005 Dominique Jackson (Fairfield) a 2:12.19 best. Renisha Robinson (Mitty, San Jose) was 2:11.27 last year, with Washington stars Cori Moore (Everett) 2:12.06 and Jessica Pixler (Eastlake, Sammamish) 2:12.27 helping make a field with impressive quality and depth! Jami Hardy (Logan, Union City) leads the state in 2006 at a 2:13.41 from the indoor season.

Girls Invitatonal Two Mile
One of US prep history’s deepest fields ever gathered has National Cross Country Champion Jordan Hasay (Mission College Prep, San Luis Obispo) leading. One of US history’s most touted age-groupers ever, Hasay has let no one down so far at the prep level, with a career-long run through the record book in track already started with a 9:26.32 3000m that took down famed Julia Stamps’ National Frosh record. For the record here, the meet best is 10:11.97 by Megan Kaltenbach (Colorado). How the pack deals with the tough pace set by the mid-coast frosh star Hasay will be interesting. Keara Sammons (Smoky Hill, Aurora, Colo) was 10:27.91 last year, with Meredith Snow (Eureka, Mo) third here with a 10:30.17 best. State meet third placer over 3200m, Lauren Saylor, was sixth here last April with a 10:38.32 for the two mile distance. Christy Adamyk (Glendora) 10:36.89, Nicole Pennes (College Park, Pleasant Hill) 10:37.29, Jessica Babcock (Woodbridge, Irvine) 10:41.71, and Kari Hardt (Queen Creek, Az) 10:41.79 continue the flood that could have everyone in the nearly 20 runner event finish under 10:50.

Girls Invitational 400 Meter Dash
The “find” of the 2005 prep season, Brittany Jones (Deerfield Beach, Florida), will head west to battle a great field here. In the 2005 Nike Outdoor Championships, Jones took California State 400 champ Sa’de Williams in the one lap event, racing a 52.44 winner, and then was a super second over 200 meters at 23.13 showing a bouncy power that few of her age have been able to. She was a gold medalist in the summer in the Junior Pan American Championships. Sa’de Williams (Rancho Cucamonga), with the nations’ fastest returning clocking at 52.35 is out for revenge, with a good group close behind. Super frosh from Long Beach Poly are Jasmine Joseph (54.48) and Turquoise Thompson (53.55 last year in eighth grade). Myra Hasson (Gardena) was second in state last June with a 53.26 best. Knesha Sheard (West Catholic, Pa) was 54.88 indoors this winter for the distance

Boys Invitational 400 meters
Nate Anderson (Benson Tech, Portland, Or) and JT Scheuerman (Littleton, Colo) are super one-lappers who will come in to face the Golden State’s best. Anderson is a USC 46.47 flyer who was the US Junior National runner-up last year and a gold medalist from the Jr Pan Ams as an eleventh grader. JT Scheuerman is a 20.90 (200) and 46.77 (400) flyer who had a fine indoor season. United States World Youth Championship (under age 18 in Morroco last summer) team members Bryshon Nellum (Poly, Long Beach) 46.81, and Zach Chandy (Sage Hill, Newport Beach) 47.29 lead the Golden State challenge. D’Andre Hall (Dominguez, Compton) 47.50 and Brandon Saine (Piqua, Ohio) 47.68 as a soph last year, are others who add depth to the super field!

Boys Invitational 300 meter Intermediate Hurdles
David Klech (California, San Ramon) hopes to add to his haul of gold here, with the North Coast section star rocketing a 36.28 Meet Record win here in 2005 that left observers speechless at his potential. David went on to a long hurdles state title and a medal in the World Youth (under 18) Champonships last summer. The nation’s best long hurdler, he has run 51.60 in the 400 Hurdles this spring, and casually throws down some amazing efforts in duals, including a 47.8 400 a week ago. Have fun watching him in the Long Jump, short and long hurdles in this meet! Clyend Simmons (Westwood, Mesa, Az) was the State 5A champ at 37.36 last spring, with Terry Prentice (Diamond Ranch, Pomona), a California State meet hurdles placer a 37.96 in the long barrier event, and USC bound quarterback Garrett Green (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 38.18 last year.

Girls Invitational 300 Meter Hurdles
Krystal Cantey (Winslow Township, NJ) is one of US Prep history’s finest long hurdlers ever, with junior year clockings of 41.19 (300mLH) and 56.83 (400mH), the latter is the #6 US prep time ever. West Catholic’s Kneshia Sheard, a 54.88 indoor 400m runner with a 64.25 400m hurdle time from last year is another strong out of stater. Jamesha Youngblood (Hercules) is among the nation’s top dozen returnees, with the 2005 State Meet third placer a 42.84 2005 best. Shana Woods (Poly, Long Beach) is the nation’s top all-around athlete in the Heptathlon, with a 43.11 in this event from last year, with Kiani Profit (Muir, Pasadena) 43.16 and fifth in last year’s State meet in the event. Another great all-arounder, Ashika Charan (Claremont) was sixth at State with a 43.12 best, with the east San Gabriel Valley star also out near 20 in the Long Jump and near 42 feet in the triple jump. Turquoise Thompson (Poly, Long Beach), one of the nation’s top age-group long sprinters, has been under 45 this season as a ninth grader.

Girls Invitational Distance Medley
A great group of teams from across the nation will chase two of the top teams from this past Fall’s prep Cross-Country season, Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) and Saratoga Springs (NY). CdM was #1 ranked nationally much of the Fall, with Saratoga annually the best harrier squad in the nation, ending the 2005 Fall season as number two after the Nike Team Nationals in Portland in December. Corona del Mar led the nation in this event last year at 11:42.07, the #5 time in US Prep history. State 1600 Champ Annie St. Geme (4:51.00 mile best) leads, with strength all the way down to the one lap leg, with 56.73 400 Kelly Morgan star holding down the 400. The California record is 11:41.28 by San Lorenzo Valley from 2000. Saratoga Springs is led by 4:52 miler Lindsey Ferguson and 4:57 4-lapper Hannah Davidson, with Fremont (Utah) ranked #11 nationally in cross-country, Judge Memorial (Salt Lake City), with star Samantha Gafney, Fountain Valley, and , Royal, with Nicole Blood possibly putting in an appearance, are among the other top squads on paper.

Girls Invitational 200 Meters
Brittany Jones (Deerfield Beach, Florida) is the nation’s top long dasher, with a powerful 23.13 best here. She will battle Sa’de Williams (Rancho Cucamonga) 23.38 a second time (after the 400) State champ Khrystal Carter (Valley Christian, San Jose) is back at 23.61, with Jeneba Tarmoh (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose), third in the 2005 State meet, recently the runner-up in the National Scholastic Indoor meet at 23.66. Kenyanna Wilson (Peoria, Az) will be a factor in this sprint event also, with a recent 23.89 in the Chandler Relays, and Jenna Tarmoh (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose) was 23.66 indoors at the NSIC Indoor meet

Boys Invitational 200 Meter Dash
Whoa, dynamite action spread across the middle of the track! Defending State Champ Jamere Holland was 20.88 last season, and will have some competition with a super group competing here. JT Scheuerman (Littleton, Colo) was 20.90 last year and had a great winter indoor season. Devin Mays (Lincoln, Stockton) 21.13 and Jahvid Best (Salesian, Richmond) 21.18 also return as among the top half dozen nationally in the entire nation. Mays was a gold medalist in the relay in the World Youth Championships last summer, with Best a hit of the National Junior Olympic circuit last summer. Dax Danns (Helix, La Mesa) was fourth in the World Youth meet for his native Guyana at 21.21 last summer, with Rodney Glass (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 21.29 last year in the half-lap!

Boys Invitational 2 mile
They are coming in everywhere for this one, coast to coast, north and south, no area is left out in the search for good eight-lappers! Sandy Roberts (Broughton, Raleigh, NC) is the nation’s top returning 2 miler at 8:59.23. National Cross-Country champion AJ Acosta (El Camino, Oceanside) was 9:05.18 for two miles last year and will be tough for anyone to beat. The Mercado twins, Diego (9:04.84 3200) and Danny (8:31.28 3K) from West Covina will be prominently in the medal hunt. It is hoped a god early pace will set up another of those very, very deep Arcadia distance races.

Boys Distance medley Relay
Monsignor Farrell, New York was a fine 10:14.99, the #2 prep time in US History from the National Scholastic Indoor meet in New York. Ridgewood, New Jersey was 10:18.57 in winning the Eastern States Relay Championship. Madera, who won last year here over Ridgewood, has another strong squad once again, with El Toro entered with a quick aggregate time.

Girls Invitational 4x400 relay
A potentially super four lap relay could close down the meet on the Girls’ side! Running two frosh and a soph along with senor Shana Woods, Long Beach Poly raced US Prep history’s #4 clocking ever indoors at 3:42.91 in winning the NSIC Meet. West Catholic (Philadelphia) was third there at 3:47.91. Rancho Cucamonga has been 3:49.1 outdoors already in a solo effort. Logan was 3:45.80 last year with Fairfield 3:46.19 and they both can go faster this year! If you are a small school fan cheer for Marlborough, with the small Los Angeles group one of the State’s top overall squads at their level and 3:56.73 already!

Boys Invitational 4x400 Relay
A great, very competitive Boys 4 lap baton contest will close the meet down on that side also! Bryshon Nellum should make Long Beach Poly tough to handle with his 46.82 anchor speed. JW North (Riverside) has run 3:18.17 already with a very solid group led by 47.68 star Nevin Gutierrez. Benson from Portland Oregon has Nate Anderson 46.47 on the anchor and will be dangerous! Balanced groups from traditional powers Birmingham (Lake Balboa), Dominguez (Compton), Rancho Cucamonga, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), and Dorsey (LA) will make this a “rocker” to shut the evening down.