By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Here is a list of 10 athletes you don't want to miss Friday and Saturday at the 48th Arcadia Invitational:

Rai Benjamin, Mount Vernon (New York) -- Recently selected male athlete of the year on the Armory All-Star team after clocking a U.S. No. 2 all-time 33.17 at 300 meters, followed by a New Balance National Indoor title at 400 meters with a 46.61. Benjamin, a UCLA signee, captured the 20-under silver medal in the 400 at the CARIFTA Games in Saint Kitts and Nevis with a national-leading 46.19, trailing only Jamaica's Akeem Bloomfield (45.85).

Vashti Cunningham, Bishop Gorman (Nevada) -- Amy Acuff set the national high school high jump record with a clearance of 6-4 in 1993 and Toni Young of Oklahoma equaled the mark in 2009. Cunningham is the national outdoor leader at 6-2 1/2 and the junior could challenge the record again after three recent misses attempting 6-4 1/4 at the Las Vegas Track Classic.

Jasmyne Graham, Roosevelt -- Already with impressive doubles in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles at the Redondo/NIKE Invitational and NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational, Graham will receive serious challenges in both races. The USC signee has the potential to capture multiple gold medals, with Roosevelt also expected to be a factor in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.

Margaux Jones, Redlands -- The defending Arcadia and state long jump champion, the USC-bound Jones is at her best when the competition is the toughest, but she'll face plenty of challenges from Harvard-Westlake's Courtney Corrin, Agoura's Tara Davis and Chinne Okoronkwo of Washington's Mountlake Terrace to secure another gold medal.

Matt Katnik, St. John Bosco -- There has only been one 70-foot shot put in meet history, when Fallbrook's Brent Noon produced the Arcadia record of 71-4 1/4 in 1990. Katnik is the national outdoor leader at 68-9 and the senior could become only the third athlete in California to reach the 70-foot barrier, including the first since 1997.

Kaitlyn Merritt, Santa Margarita -- A two-time Arcadia pole vault champion who holds the meet record, Merritt would enjoy nothing more than securing a three-peat with a 14-foot clearance. Although many could be watching Saudi Arabian prep pole vaulting standout Hussain Al-Hizam, Merritt's pursuit of history will be quite significant.

Isaiah Oliver, Brophy College Prep (Arizona) -- Devon Allen and Robert Grant have represented Brophy Prep with Arcadia gold medals and Oliver looks to continue that tradition this season. In addition to competing in the decathlon Thursday and Friday, the senior is entered in five additional events, but how challenging his schedule will be beyond the hurdling races remains to be seen.

Connor Ross, McQueen (Nevada) -- Following his national-leading 1:50.75 in the 800 at the Stanford Invitational, Ross is expected to capture his first individual Arcadia gold and could factor significantly into McQueen's relays, along with teammate Kai Benedict. Ross also has an outside shot at Nick Hartle's Nevada state record of 1:49.48, set in 2012.

Greg Vann, Rio Mesa -- Former Serra standout and USC freshman Adoree Jackson was the third athlete in meet history to long jump 25 feet last season. Vann, an Oklahoma signee, is not only looking for redemption following a 13th-place finish at Arcadia last year, but hoping he can finally surpass that elusive barrier and improve on his national outdoor lead.

Lauren Rain Williams, Oaks Christian -- The sophomore is entered in four events for the Lions and should capture a minimum of two gold medals, with the potential to sweep all four in her Arcadia debut, depending on Oaks Christian's performances in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays. The New Balance National Indoor 200-meter champion is the national outdoor leader under all conditions at 23.43.