By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport

The 64th Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike are scheduled for Wednesday, April 17 through Saturday, April 20 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST APRIL 18-20 OF 64TH MT. SAC RELAYS PRESENTED BY NIKE ON RUNNERSPACE+PLUS

Here are 10 invitational elite storylines involving college and professional athletes to follow at one of the nation’s most prestigious track and field competitions:

Cal’s traveling throws show

Among the expected participants in the invitational elite throwing competitions are the reigning World Athletics Outdoor Championships gold medalist in the women’s hammer throw and the athlete who achieved a brand new world record in the men’s discus throw less than a week ago.

And they are both part of the exceptional group of throwers mentored by Cal Berkeley coach Mohamad Saatara.

Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania was entered in the men’s discus competition Saturday following his world record of 243 feet, 11 inches (74.35m) on Sunday at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational at Millican Field in Ramona, but Saatara confirmed Friday that Alekna would not be competing at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Alekna eclipsed the 1986 all-time mark of 243-0.50 (74.08m) established by German competitor Jürgen Schult, taking down the oldest world record in any field event.

Without the presence of Alekna in the field, American competitors Turner Washington, Brian Williams and Reggie Jagers will square off for supremacy, in addition to Jamaican athlete and Oklahoma standout Ralford Mullings, who is competing unattached.

Ben Plucknett has held the meet all-time mark of 227-7 (69.36m) since 1983.

Camryn Rogers, a Nike professional athlete representing Canada, won the hammer throw World title in August in Budapest, Hungary with an opening-round mark of 253-4 (77.22m). She improved on her Canadian national record with a 257-11 (78.62m) performance in May at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at UCLA.

Rogers, who triumphed last year at Mt. SAC with a meet-record 255-4 (77.84m), is scheduled to square off Saturday against former Cal teammate and British athlete Anna Purchase, as well as current Golden Bears’ competitor and Dutch performer Audrey Jacobs.

Alyssa Wilson, an American athlete competing for Shore Athletic Club after representing Texas State and UCLA during her collegiate career, boasts a personal-best 245-4 (74.78m).

Amber Simpson, an Illinois competitor representing Wales, is the No. 2 collegiate athlete this season at 230-4 (70.21m).

The women’s discus competition is expected to showcase Swedish athlete and Cal record holder Caisa-Marie Lindfors, a Florida State transfer who produced the Golden Bears’ all-time mark of 201-7 (61.44m) on March 30 at the Stanford Invitational.

Jasmine Blair is also scheduled to represent Cal in the competition, as well as former Texas standout Elena Bruckner, who trains as a professional athlete in Saatara’s group.

Fresno State’s Cierra Jackson and Jordyn Bryant are also teammates in the top 10 among collegiate competitors this season, just like Blair and Lindfors.

Valarie Allman boasts the women’s discus meet record of 227-11 (69.46m) from 2022.

Rowan Hamilton, a Canadian athlete who transferred from NAIA British Columbia to compete at Cal, is entered Saturday in the men’s hammer throw, looking to bounce back from a 10th-place finish at Mt. SAC last year.

Hamilton triumphed April 6 in Berkeley at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational with a throw of 246-3 (75.05m).

Sweden’s Ivar Moisander is also scheduled to compete for the Golden Bears in a hammer throw field that also includes Norwegian athlete Jon Nerdal, former Arizona star Jordan Geist, plus Cal State Northridge’s Trey Knight, Jeremiah Nubbe from Texas, Grand Canyon’s Israel Oloyede, Washington’s Jayden White and Greek athlete Nikolaos Polychroniou from USC.

Judd Logan set the men’s hammer throw meet record of 265-4 (80.88m) in 1986.

Cal’s Carolina Visca, representing Italy, is part of the women’s javelin competition Thursday, in addition to fellow Italian Federica Botter from UCLA, plus returning champion Arianne Morais of UTEP, a Norwegian competitor, and Fresno State graduate Vanja Spaic of Bosnia.

Morais triumphed last year with a throw of 188-3 (57.38m).

Kara Winger achieved the meet all-time mark in 2022 with her 207-8 (63.29m) effort.

Texas sprint corps ready to shine

Not to be outdone by the depth or star power of the throwers training in Berkeley, several elite sprinters training with Texas coach Edrick Floreal are entered Saturday in the women’s 100 and 200 meters.

Julien Alfred, the reigning Bowerman Award women’s winner after sweeping the 100 and 200 titles for the Longhorns in June at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships in Austin, is now preparing to represent Saint Lucia in the Paris Olympics.

Alfred won the 60-meter gold medal in early March at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Scotland.

She ran as part of multiple relays in late March at the 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, with Alfred’s participation at Mt. SAC scheduled to be her first individual races of the outdoor season.

Alfred is expected to be joined by British standout Dina Asher-Smith, Irish competitor Rhasidat Adeleke and Jamaican athlete Lanae-Tava Thomas among the athletes representing Floreal’s training group.

Morolake Akinosun, another former Texas standout, is also entered, in addition to Oregon All-American Jadyn Mays, who is No. 6 among collegiate performers this season in the 200 at 22.85.

Marie-Josee' Ta Lou-Smith of the Ivory Coast is also scheduled to compete in the 200, as well as former USC All-American and New Balance professional athlete Kendall Ellis, who is also entered in the 400.

The women’s 100-meter dash meet record of 10.87 achieved by Jamaican star Merlene Ottey has stood since 1987. Gabby Thomas, a New Balance professional athlete representing the U.S., set the 200 meet record of 22.02 in 2022.

Alfred boasts wind-legal personal-best efforts of 10.81 and 21.91. She has run wind-aided performances of 10.72 and 21.73.

Benjamin, Norman back to work

One of the most memorable performances in meet history was produced in 2019 by Nike professional athletes, training partners and former USC teammates Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin in the men’s 400 meters.

Norman ran a meet-record 43.45 seconds and Benjamin was second in 44.31.

Benjamin has also competed in the 400 hurdles at the Mt. SAC Relays, with Norman running the 100-meter dash last year.

But both athletes are scheduled to return Saturday to the 400, leading an invitational elite field that is also expected to include American professional athletes Michael Cherry, Paul Dedewo and Devin Dixon.

Justin Robinson and Gamali Felix, members of Arizona State’s reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor 4x400-meter relay championship quartet, are also expected to compete, as well as Texas standout Brian Herron, the UCLA trio of Cameron Reynolds, Ismail Turner and Myles Misener-Daley, plus USC’s Johnnie Blockburger. 

Simultaneous runways offer spectacular showcase

The men’s and women’s invitational elite pole vault competitions are scheduled to be held simultaneously on adjacent runways Saturday, including returning women’s winner Nastassja Campbell from Washington, along with her teammates Sara Borton, Amanda Moll and Hana Moll, the reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor champion.

Campbell achieved a 14-11 (4.55m) clearance to prevail last year.

Along with Hana Moll, Oklahoma’s Olivia Lueking, Tori Thomas of Illinois and Cal’s Amari Turner all enter the competition ranked among the top 10 collegiate vaulters this season.

Emily Grove, an American professional athlete and former South Dakota standout, is also scheduled to compete.

Annie Rhodes-Johnigan cleared a meet-record 15-3 (4.65m) in 2019.

Hunter Garretson, the collegiate outdoor leader this season at 19-1.50 (5.83m) for Akron, is entered in the men’s competition, in addition to South Alabama’s Kyle Rademeyer and Cody Johnston of Illinois, who are also ranked in the top 10 among NCAA athletes this year.

They will be joined by World Athletics Championships qualifier Zach Bradford, as well as fellow American professional athletes Luke Winder, Carson Waters, Cole Walsh, Nate Richartz and Clayton Fritsch.

The men’s pole vault all-time meet performance of 19-1 (5.82m) produced by current Mt. SAC coach Giovanni Lanaro has stood since 2007.

Harrison highlights hurdles lineup

Keni Harrison, who now trains in Los Angeles with veteran coach Bobby Kersee, didn’t race during the indoor season, so the presence of the 31-year-old adidas professional in the women’s invitational elite 100-meter hurdles Saturday offers as much curiosity as it does encouragement for her return to competition.

Harrison competed at Mt. SAC in 2022, running 12.56 in the 100 hurdles final to place second after clocking a wind-aided 12.42 in the prelims.

The meet record of 12.43 achieved by Brianna McNeal was established in 2018.

Fellow American professional athlete Talie Bonds, an Arizona All-American last year, is also expected to compete, plus San Diego State graduate Danae Dyer, in addition to Oregon’s Aaliyah McCormick and the USC trio of Jalaysiya Smith, Nonah Waldron and Simone Ballard.

Meaningful middle-distance matchup

Jesus Tonatiu Lopez, the Mexican national record holder in the men’s 800 meters, has already secured victories this season at the 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University, and looks to continue his momentum Saturday against a field that includes returning champion, Nike professional athlete and American competitor Isaiah Jewett.

Lopez, representing HOKA, prevailed at Texas Relays in 1:45.39 and clocked 1:45.14 on April 11 at Bryan Clay, looking to achieve his first sub-1:45 effort of the year at Mt. SAC after not competing during the indoor season.

Lopez produced the national record of 1:43.44 in 2021 in Atlanta.

Jewett triumphed last year at Mt. SAC in 1:47.41, but boasts a lifetime-best 1:43.85 from 2021 at Hayward Field in Oregon.

Clayton Murphy set the meet record of 1:43.60 in 2017.

Yusuf Bizimana from Texas, is also scheduled to race, in addition to fellow British athlete Thomas Staines, as well as American professional competitor Derek Holdsworth and Moroccan standout Moad Zahafi.

Jump right in

The depth of the fields in the invitational elite horizontal jumps seldom disappoint at the Mt. SAC Relays and this year is no exception.

American professional athletes Jenna Prandini, Madisen Richards and Jasmine Todd are part of the women’s long jump field, which also includes collegiate leader Tacoria Humphrey at 22-0.25 (6.71m), plus teammates Elizabeth Ndudi and Sophia Beckmon.

Oregon standout Alysah Hickey, who won last year’s competition at 22-0.25, is scheduled to return, in addition to Stanford All-American Alyssa Jones and three-time NCAA Division 2 outdoor champion and French standout Marie-Jeanne Ourega from Academy of Art.

American professional athletes Lexi Ellis and Arianna Fisher are entered in the women’s triple jump, scheduled to square off against collegiate leader and Nigerian athlete Temitope Ojora from USC, who produced a 44-11.50 (13.70m) performance March 22 at the Trojan Invitational.

Darja Sopova of Illinois, representing Latvia, is also expected to compete, as well as Fresno State standout Rachela Pace from Malta, plus San Diego State’s Xiamara Young.

Ellis and Ojora finished second and third at Mt. SAC last year, both surpassing 44 feet.

USC’s Johnny Brackins, the reigning USATF indoor champion, highlights the men’s long jump, competing for the first time in the event during the outdoor season.

Leo Neugebauer of Texas, the German star and collegiate record holder in the decathlon, is also scheduled to compete in the long jump, in addition to Jamaican athlete Nikaoli Williams from Oklahoma.

American professional competitors Will Williams, Jason Smith, Trumaine Jefferson and Kemonie Briggs are also scheduled to participate in the long jump as well.

Williams triumphed last year with a leap of 27 feet (8.23m) to edge Briggs at 26-11.75 (8.22m).

Reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor triple jump champion Russell Robinson from Miami (Florida) is part of a field that also includes American professional athlete Chris Benard. Robinson placed second last year at Mt. SAC with a mark of 56-2 (17.12m).

Brandon Green, Jr. from Oklahoma, along with French athlete Yacouba Gnacko from Academy of Art are also part of the triple jump field.

It would be a significant performance in any of the four competitions to challenge the meet all-time marks of 28-5 (8.66m) by Carl Lewis in the men’s long jump and 57-10.25 (17.63m) from Kenta Bell in the men’s triple jump, in addition to 23-4.50 (7.12m) by Brittney Reese in the women’s long jump and 47-1 (14.33m) from Keturah Orji in the women’s triple jump.

Steeplechase spotlight

Kenneth Rooks, the reigning NCAA Division 1 winner and defending U.S. national champion in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, is expected to return to the Hilmer Lodge Stadium track Thursday for his first race of the outdoor season following a significant breakthrough last year at the Track Festival at Mt. SAC, clocking 8:17.62 in May.

Rooks, a former Brigham Young standout, secured the U.S. crown in July in 8:16.78 at Hayward Field in Oregon, before finishing 10th at the World Athletics Outdoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Rooks is expected to compete against fellow American athletes Mason Ferlic, Eric Avila and Brian Barraza, in addition to British standout Zak Seddon.

Evan Jager has held the men’s 3,000 steeplechase all-time meet performance of 8:26.14 since 2012.

A pair of competitors from Great Britain also highlight the women’s invitational elite 3,000 steeplechase, with reigning British national champion Poppy Tank and ASICS athlete Stevie Lawrence from Mammoth Track Club scheduled to race against Lithuanian standout and Cal Baptist athlete Greta Karinauskaite.

Lawrence prevailed last year in 10:03.95.

Sara Van Dyke from Cal Coast Track Club, plus former Long Beach State standout Ryley Fick are also expected to compete.

Courtney Wayment produced the women’s steeplechase meet record of 9:26.88 in 2022.

More queens of the ring

The women’s shot put invitational elite competition is also among the marquee matchups Saturday, with reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor champion Mya Lesnar from Colorado State battling against Texas teammates Nina Ndubuisi from Germany and American athletes Chrystal Herpin and Marilyn Nwora, in addition to New Zealand competitor Tapenisa Havea from Arizona, Fresno State’s Cierra Jackson and the UCLA pair of Lea Riedel from Germany and Natalie Ramirez.

Lesnar prevailed April 12 at the Beach Invitational at Long Beach State with a 60-5 (18.41m) effort, her first shot put competition since winning the Division 1 indoor title March 9 in Boston with a mark of 60-9.50 (18.53m).

Ndubusi, Herpin and Nwora all rank among the top 10 collegiate competitors this season.

Claudia Losch from Germany established the meet record of 66-10.50 (20.13m) in 1984.

Howell ready for more

Olivia Howell will be wearing a different shade of orange Friday in the women’s invitational elite 1,500 meters, but the Texas standout was left seeing red last year after being edged at the finish by Stanford’s Juliette Whittaker.

Howell, who captured the NCAA Division 1 indoor mile title last season representing Illinois before transferring to Texas this year, was held off by Whittaker at Mt. SAC by a 4:12.49 to 4:13.27 margin.

Howell leads a field that also includes Dutch standout Amina Maatoug from Duke, Atalanta NYC teammates Karisa Nelson and Emily Richards, Swedish standout Hanna Hermansson, Anna Vess from Very Nice Track Club, ASICS competitor Grace Barnett and multiple Boston College competitors, led by Aoife Dunne.

Howell ran 4:16.90 on April 13 at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Brenda Martinez achieved the fastest performance in meet history with her 4:04.86 effort in 2013.