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California Standouts Derek Pekar of Ventura, Jessica Swalve of Westmont Headline Arcadia MultisPublished by
Pekar pursuing decathlon title after runner-up finish last year, Swalve looks to elevate from fifth in heptathlon with another big PR against field that includes multiple international competitors By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Ventura CA senior Derek Pekar and Westmont CA senior Jessica Swalve are among the leading entries for the 11th edition of the Arcadia Multis, competing unattached Friday and Saturday at the annual decathlon and heptathlon competition under USATF sanction at Arcadia High. Competition in both events concludes Saturday afternoon, with the heptathlon 800 meters being held during the open schedule and the decathlon 1,500 meters scheduled for the invitational session. Pekar was the runner-up at last year’s event, before going on to place fifth in June at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in North Carolina with 6,369 points. Swalve finished fifth in last year’s competition with 4,216 points, before enjoying a significant improvement to elevate to 4,427 points to take 11th at New Balance Nationals. Pekar is among 15 male athletes entered in the decathlon, including Markus Rooth of Norway. Swalve is among 16 female entries in the heptathlon, including international competitors Kajsa Rooth from Norway and Holly Harrison from British Columbia, Canada. There are four individuals in both the decathlon and heptathlon returning to Arcadia from last season. In addition to Pekar, St. Francis CA senior Matthew Molina, St. Christopher’s VA senior Elby Omohundro and Mission Vista CA senior Connor Luck are all scheduled to compete. Molina was sixth last year at Arcadia with 6,081 points, Omohundro finished 11th with 5,487 and Luck placed 12th with 5,445. Omohundro enjoyed a huge improvement in June at New Balance Nationals, securing 10th with 6,140. Along with Swalve, Orange Vista CA senior Skye Lattimore, Coronado CA senior Ruthie Grant-Williams and Lincoln Stockton CA senior Yasmyn Harris are all returning competitors. Lattimore finished eighth last season with 4,055 points, Grant-Williams placed ninth with 4,017 and Harris was 15th with 3,446. Lattimore and Harris placed first and second in the pentathlon in February at the California Winter Outdoor Championships at Arcadia. Xavier Prep AZ senior Jada Sims, who placed 17th last year at New Balance Nationals with 4,237 points, is scheduled to compete at Arcadia for the first time. A trio of athletes also making their Arcadia Multis debuts with potential to challenge for the heptathlon title are Covina CA sophomore Maya Rush – who boasts a personal-best 4,364 points from July at the USATF Region 15 Junior Olympic Combined Event Championships – along with Millville Senior NJ freshman Bryanna Craig, who placed ninth in June with 4,324 points at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in Indiana. Rush also placed third in February in the pentathlon at the California Winter Outdoor Championships. Lompoc Cabrillo CA senior Ty Hernandez, who won the pentathlon crown at the California Winter Outdoor Championships, is entered in the decathlon. DECATHLON ENTRIES Markus Bynum (Berkeley Prep FL) HEPTATHLON ENTRIES Bryanna Craig (Millville Senior NJ) More news |
