By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor
Here is a list of 10 of the most anticipated races Friday and Saturday at the 48th Arcadia Invitational:
Boys 3,200 meters (8:55 p.m. Saturday)
There were 20 athletes who eclipsed the 9-minute barrier at last year's meet and that number could be challenged this season. Loyola's Robert Brandt, the national outdoor leader at 8:56.69, will be pushed by fellow Californians Austin Tamagno of Brea-Olinda and Big Bear's Caleb Webb, along with an impressive group of elite runners from across the country. Elijah Armstrong of Pocatello (Idaho), Miles Yapp of Brookwood (Georgia), Adam Barnard of Daniel Boone (Tennessee), Zack Snider of Brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Indiana) and Tanis Baldwin of East Henderson (North Carolina) should all be near the front, along with Illnois standouts Jesse Reiser of McHenry and Zach Dale of Conant.
Girls 4 x 1,600-meter relay (7:48 p.m. Friday)
Great Oak, Saugus and Desert Vista of Arizona took the top three spots at last year's meet and are again the leading challengers for this season's title. Desert Vista, with Baylee Jones, Amanda Davis and Dani Jones all returning from last year's third-place finish, not only has its sights set on the Arizona state record of 20:14.08 established in 2012 by Xavier College Prep, but producing one of the fastest times in U.S. prep history, which it will need to deliver in order to defeat past champions Great Oak and Saugus.
Boys 400 meters (7:09 p.m. Saturday)
It's an East vs. West battle with Rai Benjamin of Mount Vernon (New York) taking on Vista Murrieta's Michael Norman, Damien's Zachary Shinnick and Long Beach Wilson's Mar'Yea Harris. Benjamin enters the meet with plenty of momentum after posting a national-leading 46.19 at the CARIFTA Games in Saint Kitts and Nevis, but Norman -- the national outdoor leader at 200 meters -- won't back down from the challenge.
Girls 100-meter dash (6:40 p.m. Saturday)
The first of many showdowns involving Rio Mesa's Zaria Francis, Oaks Christian's Lauren Rain Williams and Mission Hills' Suzie Acolatse in what should be a preview of the state final. California is looking to crown a new sprint queen after Long Beach Poly graduate Ariana Washington took her talents to Oregon and this is an opportunity for early bragging rights.
Boys 4 x 1,600-meter relay (9:40 p.m. Friday)
Great Oak is the defending champion, but there are several rapidly improving California challengers ready to battle the Wolfpack. Madera South, Jurupa Hills, Dana Hills and Agoura all have the depth in order to go after Loyola's national-leading time of 17:43.38 in a race that should go down to the wire.
Girls 3,200 meters (8:40 p.m. Saturday)
Despite not racing at this distance since last year's Arizona state meet, Desert Vista's Dani Jones has put together one of the best outdoor seasons of any runner in the country and is ready to take on California stars Fiona O'Keeffe of Davis Senior, Marissa Williams of Palisades and freshman Rylee Bowen of Sonoma Academy, along with Emily Hamlin from Boise, Idaho. Jones has her sights set on the Arizona state record of 10:15.93 set in 1999 by Mountain Pointe's Sara Gorton.
Boys 110-meter hurdles (6:16 p.m. Saturday)
Chad Zallow of Ohio's John F. Kennedy had an impressive indoor season, capped by a runner-up finish in the 60-meter hurdles at New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York, but he will receive a significant test in his first big showdown of the outdoor season. Isaiah Oliver of Arizona's Brophy College Prep, along with the California trio of Simi Valley's Alex Billing, Upland's Joseph Anderson and Branham's Aidan Kirwan, are all taking aim at the 14-second barrier and a victory over Zallow.
Girls 1 Mile (5:49 p.m. Saturday)
Although national outdoor leader Dani Jones of Desert Vista (Arizona) is not entered in the event after a second-place finish last year, this race isn't lacking for star power with Azusa Meet of Champions and adidas Dream Mile qualifier Amanda Gehrich of Tesoro squaring off against freshman standout Bryn Morley of Bigfork (Montana), Great Oak's Destiny Collins, Palisades' Marissa Williams, along with Colorado standouts Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy, Lauren Gregory of Fort Collins and Jordyn Colter of Cherry Creek.
Boys 4 x 100-meter relay (5:29 p.m. Saturday)
It will likely be an all-California battle down the home stretch, but Chaminade is looking for a signature victory after posting a state-leading 41.10 at Pasadena Games. Expect Mission League rivals Alemany and Notre Dame to test Chaminade, along with Vista Murrieta and Upland in what could be a preview of the state final.
Girls 4 x 400-meter relay (9:32 p.m. Saturday)
Two potential California state finalists in Roosevelt and Oaks Christian square off for the first time and will battle New York's Paul Robeson Campus, Virginia's Nansemond River and North Carolina's Parkland, with several lineups having the potential to challenge the national-leading mark of 3:44.38 set by Miami Northwestern.
