National, state records add another historic chapter in Arcadia history

McLaughlin and American Fork UT boys 4x1,600 relay establish new high school standards, with Davis, Washington adding to their legacies in California and Arizona to highlight meet’s 50th edition

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor 

From the emphatic first discus throw Saturday of Canyon del Oro AZ senior Turner Washington to the dominant final stretch run of St. Joseph Notre Dame CA senior Cooper Teare in the boys 3,200 meters, the 50th Arcadia Invitational will be remembered as one of the most memorable in meet history.

In between was Union Catholic NJ senior Sydney McLaughlin setting national high school and American records in the 300-meter hurdles, Claudia Lane of Malibu CA edging Brie Oakley of Grandview CO in a thrilling 3,200 matchup and Agoura CA senior Tara Davis defending her three titles in the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter hurdles, setting a state record in the latter.

Lane clocked 9:57.52 to hold off Oakley in 9:57.59 for the second- and third-fastest times in meet history and elevating them to the Nos. 13 and 14 all-time high school performers with their 2-mile conversions.

McLaughlin ran the world’s third-fastest time ever in the 300 hurdles by clocking 38.90 – breaking the 2001 high school standard of 39.98 by Long Beach Wilson CA graduate Lashinda Demus and American record of 39.73 set the same year by Kim Batten – and Teare ran a nation-leading 8:41.46 to eclipse the 1976 meet record of 8:42.30 by Thom Hunt of Patrick Henry CA, improving to the No. 13 high school performer all-time with his converted 2-mile effort and leading 25 athletes under the 9-minute barrier.

McLaughlin and Teare earned track athletes of the meet, with Davis and Washington honored as the top field event competitors.

Washington added to his own state record in the discus following a nation-leading 217-5, with Davis clocking a California state record 13.01 in the 100-meter hurdles – breaking the 2007 mark of 13.03 by Mt. Pleasant’s Vashti Thomas and making her the No. 6 all-time prep performer – to go along with 41-7.75 in the triple jump and 20-4.50 in the long jump, her first 20-foot leap in four Arcadia appearances.

But they were just some of the stars shining under the lights at Arcadia High, including another national record in the boys 4x1,600 relay Friday, with Carson Clinger, McKay Johns, Patrick Parker and Casey Clinger of American Fork UT clocking 16:41.30.

Seniors Sydney Belus, Nicole Rice, Evelyn Mandel and Kiyena Beatty won the girls 4x1,600 relay Friday for the third time in four years for Great Oak CA in a nation-leading 20:05.31.

Bellarmine Prep CA junior Alex Scales won three events, beginning with his 1:51 opener on Friday’s nation-leading 4x800 relay that clocked 7:45.56 and capped by his 4:10 anchor on the victorious distance medley relay Saturday in 10:11.20, in addition to the second-fastest time in the country in the invitational 800 in 1:50.64. Ben Micallef, Dylan Doblar, Tommy Rocha and Daniel LeClair contributed to the relay victories for the Belles.

After taking the top two spots in their 3,200 section Friday in 10:24.08 and 10:25.78, Oak Ridge CA junior sisters Maddy Denner and Elena Denner teamed with Kathryn Bingham and Jenna Marlett to win the distance medley relay Saturday in a nation-leading 11:49.49.

Brian Herron, a sophomore from Lakeside DeKalb GA, won the 200 and 400 meters in 21.39 and 46.47 seconds, becoming the first male athlete to sweep both events since Elzie Coleman of Newburgh Free Academy NY in 2004.

After helping Chandler run the fastest time in the country Friday with a 9:07.38 in the girls 4x800 relay with Morgan Foster and Gabrielle Enns, Anna Foreman and LaMeyah Charlton joined Armani Harris and Anaya Bailey in breaking their own Arizona state 4x400 record by clocking 3:46.14.

Arizona also enjoyed a significant meet in the throwing events, with Washington improving to fourth in the discus in meet history and the No. 6 all-time U.S. prep performer. Desert Vista senior Elijah Mason placed second with a mark of 212-11, moving into a tie for second in Arizona history and equal to fifth all-time in the meet.

Desert Vista also won the boys 4x110 shuttle hurdles relay Friday in 1:01.39.

Mountain Pointe senior Kayleigh Conlon produced personal bests of 46-9 to win the shot put and 156-3 to place second in the discus. Conlon equaled the No. 3 mark in Arizona history in the shot put and improved to No. 4 all-time in the state in the discus.

Colorado had a memorable Saturday, with Broomfield junior Madison Mooney winning the girls mile in 4:47.32 to edge Rush-Henrietta NY senior Samantha Watson (4:47.72), and Monarch senior Isaac Green prevailing by a 4:09.69 to 4:09.96 margin over American Fork UT senior Patrick Parker in the boys mile.

Anaheim Canyon CA senior Rachel Baxter, who set the meet record in the pole vault last year by clearing 14-2, repeated as champion with a 13-6 clearance, leading four competitors over 13 feet.

Carson defended its title in the girls 4x100 relay in 45.90, with Kenyla Miles and Kaelin Roberts repeating from last season, joining Saundria Martin and Jaylen Walker.

Centennial NV followed its victory in the boys 4x200 relay Friday in 1:26.03 by concluding the meet Saturday with a win in the 4x400 in 3:17.54. James Johnson, Randall Jubilee and Tre Harley ran on both relays, with Marvin Perkins Jr. competing on the 4x400 and Savon Scarver in the 4x200.

Centennial denied Cory Poole of East Orange Campus NJ a second victory following his win in the 300 hurdles in 36.55. East Orange Campus ran 3:17.69 in the 4x400.

Upland CA senior Joseph Anderson ran 13.59 to win the 110 hurdles, with Vista Murrieta CA senior Javelin Guidry prevailing in the 100 in 10.34.

After taking second to McLaughlin in the 300 hurdles in 40.41 and third in the 100 in 11.757, Norco CA senior Shae Anderson won the 200 in 23.73, denying Serra CA senior Jasmin Reed (23.84) a sprint sweep following her victory in the 100 in 11.58. Reed also anchored Serra to a 4x200 victory Friday in 1:38.68.

California state 800 champion Alyssa Brewer of San Ramon California ran the second-fastest time in the country to prevail in 2:07.90, with Marietta GA sophomore Sterling Lester taking the girls 400 in 53.94.

After leading Hoover AL to victory in the 4x100 shuttle hurdles relay Friday in 58.79, senior Caitlyn Little placed second to Davis in the 100 hurdles in a personal-best 13.29. Little also helped Hoover win the seeded 4x100 relay in 47.78 and take second to Serra in the 4x200 in 1:39.59.

Long Beach Poly extended its streak of victories at Arcadia to at least 27 years by winning the girls 800 sprint medley relay in 1:45.28, with Ariyonna Augustine also placing second in the 100 in 11.752 and third in the 200 in 24.33. Provo UT, featuring sisters Meghan Hunter and Kate Hunter, won the 1,600 sprint medley relay in 4:00.23.

Lees Summit West junior Makayla Kelby became the first athlete from Missouri to win a field event at Arcadia by securing victory in the discus with a throw of 158-9 and Pendleton SC freshman Kamiya Dendy clearing 5-10 to win the girls high jump, edging Bakersfield Stockdale CA senior Iesha Hamm based on fewer misses at 5-9.

Redondo Union CA senior Tate Curran cleared 17-1 to win the boys pole vault, with Clovis CA senior Jonah Wilson capturing the shot put at 64-3 and Vista del Lago CA junior Jake Grimsman clearing 6-9 to prevail in the high jump.

Great Oak CA junior CJ Stevenson won the boys triple jump with a leap of 48-6 and Los Gatos CA senior Jared Geredes capturing the long jump with a 23-foot leap.

Trabuco Hills won the boys 800 sprint medley relay Friday in 1:33.08, with Hoover AL capturing the 1,600 sprint medley relay in 3:29.59.