By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here are 10 storylines involving boys athletes and teams to follow at the 52nd Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High.

You can watch the live Webcast of the meet Friday and Saturday.

The defining distance race

Perhaps no track race in the country annually showcases more talent than the Arcadia boys 3,200 meters, and this year is no exception.

The depth of elite athletes scheduled to compete gives Saturday’s event the potential to challenge the exceptional results from 2017, when nine individuals ran under 8:50 – highlighted by current Oregon sophomore and St. Joseph Notre Dame CA graduate Cooper Teare setting the meet record of 8:41.46 – and a total of 27 eclipsed the 9-minute barrier.

National outdoor leader Matt Strangio, a junior at Jesuit CA, made history March 16 at the Dublin Distance Fiesta by clocking 8:47.97 to prevail over reigning Nike Cross Nationals champion Liam Anderson of Redwood Larkspur CA, who ran 8:56.88. Anderson ran 8:59.77 to secure victory March 29 at the Stanford Invitational.

Strangio’s effort marked the fastest time ever by a prep athlete in the 3,200 in March and a repeat performance would place him in the top 20 in meet history.

But there will be plenty of athletes seeking an even faster pace in pursuit of Teare’s record, including Niwot CO junior Cruz Culpepper, last season’s mile champion, who is seeking a new challenge in the 3,200 this year.

Along with Strangio, Anderson and Culpepper, among the individuals scheduled to compete are Newbury Park CA junior Nico Young, Valor Christian CO junior Cole Sprout, Fort Worth Christian TX senior Carter Cheeseman, Homestead WI senior Drew Bosley, The Bolles School FL senior Charles Hicks, Highland AZ junior Leo Daschbach, Kirtland Central NM senior Kashon Harrison, Springville UT senior Grant Gardner, American Fork UT senior Luke Grundvig, Mount Si WA senior Joe Waskom, Fayetteville AR senior Camren Fischer, Academic Magnet SC senior Colin Baker, Middleton WI senior Caleb Easton, Ashland OR junior Evan Holland, East Troy WI senior Henry Chapman, Arroyo CA senior Noah Hibbard, Bakersfield Stockdale CA senior Marcus Mota, JSerra CA senior Peter Herold and Rubidoux CA senior Kevin Ramos.

All of the athletes who competed in the invitational section in 2017 have since graduated, with only Cheeseman, Gardner and Mota returning from the seeded heat. Strangio was ninth in the rated race as a freshman and 17th in the invitational section last year.

A bull’s-eye for Bullis

After Eric Allen, Jr. was the only male athlete competing for Bullis School MD at last year’s meet – finishing second in both the 100 and 200 meters – the Bulldogs are not only bringing a larger group this season, but a roster capable of producing some of the most impressive relay performances in meet history.

Bullis set national high school indoor records in the 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays Jan. 19-20 at The Virginia Showcase with marks of 1:25.60 and 3:12.53.

Despite not being able to win a New Balance Nationals Indoor title in either event, the Bulldogs return to Arcadia with plenty of motivation to chase two of the most impressive meet records.

Vista Murrieta CA, led by Michael Norman, set the 4x200 record in 2015 by clocking 1:24.53.

But the longest standing boys relay record remains the 4x400 standard produced by Muir CA in 1996, when an Obea Moore-led lineup ran 3:08.92.

Seniors Austin Allen and Andre Turay, along with juniors Ashton Allen, Jay Pendarvis, Ryan Willie and Jabril El-Amin give Bullis the ability to not only challenge the national outdoor leaders of Fort Bend Marshall TX in the 4x200 (1:24.29) and DeSoto TX in the 4x400 (3:12.34), but possibly contend for the meet records Friday and Saturday.

Looking to stand in Bullis’ way is Long Beach Poly CA, which is entered in the invitational sections of the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400.

Centennial NV was the last boys program to win the 4x200 and 4x400 in the same year, achieving the feat in 2017. Serra CA also accomplished the double in 2013.

Kings of the ring

Four of the top 10 athletes in the country in both the discus throw and shot put are scheduled to compete Saturday, with St. Pius X Catholic GA senior Tanner Duffin looking to take on a talented California trio in both events.

The shot put features an anticipated showdown of the top two performers in the country in Bakersfield Liberty CA senior Daniel Viveros, an Ole Miss signee, and the Michigan-bound Duffin. Esperanza CA junior Jeff Duensing ranks fourth nationally.

If all three individuals can surpass 66 feet, they would all be in contention to move into the top 10 in meet history.

Although there are no entries that have surpassed 200 feet in the discus yet this season, Newport Harbor CA junior Aidan Elbettar, Ohio State commit Carlos Aviles of Ventura CA and Texas-bound Christian Johnson of Buchanan CA have all demonstrated the ability to surpass 190 feet during their careers.

Duffin, who ranks seventh in the country in the discus this season, surpassed 200 feet in 2017.

Viveros won the shot put last year and Aviles prevailed in the discus.

The last male athlete to sweep the discus and shot put in the same year was former Newport Harbor standout Ethan Cochran in 2012.

Record relay reloaded

American Fork UT produced one of the most memorable moments in meet history in 2017 when Casey Clinger, Patrick Parker, McKay Johns and Carson Clinger set the national high school record of 16 minutes, 41.30 seconds in the 4x1,600-meter relay.

Although Carson Clinger is the only remaining link to that relay and American Fork doesn’t possess the same depth as it did two years ago, the Cavemen are seeking another 4x1,600 title Friday after not competing at the meet last season.

Dalton Brems, Joe Corbridge and Luke Grundvig are scheduled to join Clinger, looking to become only the second program in prep history to run under 17 minutes multiple times, joining Great Oak CA, which achieved the feat twice in 2016.

Great Oak is also expected to challenge the 17-minute barrier again with the talented quartet of Ryan Shields, Chris Verdugo, Cole Sawires Yager and Tyler Tickner.

West Ranch, Dana Hills, St. Francis Mountain View, Bellarmine Prep and Dublin are additional California programs that should be in contention as well.

Dublin and Bellarmine Prep took the top two spots last year after Dana Hills won in 2015, Great Oak prevailed in 2016 and American Fork triumphed two years ago.

A tough Kratz to follow

Austin Kratz of Dock Mennonite Academy PA produced one of the most impressive sprint sweeps in meet history last year, elevating to the No. 2 all-time performer in the 200 in a wind-legal 20.74 seconds and equaling the second-fastest time in the 100 with a wind-legal 10.34.

Several of the country’s top sprinters are looking to follow that dynamic double Saturday, led by New Balance Nationals Indoor 60-meter champion Micah Williams, a junior at Benson Tech OR.

Williams is entered in both the 100 and 200, scheduled to square off against Bullis School MD junior Ashton Allen and Hazelwood West MO junior Justin Robinson in the latter.

Williams was a member of the 4x100 relay, along with Kratz, that captured gold for the U.S. at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in July in Tampere, Finland.

Robinson was on the American 4x400 relay that captured a silver medal.

In the 100, there will be a Christian, a Cristian and a Christon all trying to challenge Williams.

Notre Dame Sherman Oaks CA senior Christian Grubb, Oaks Christian CA senior Cristian Moore and San Diego Madison CA senior Kenan Christon are all scheduled to compete.

Christon is the only returning athlete from both invitational races last season, placing fourth in the 200 and fifth in the 100.

Bushara seeks big breakthrough

After Eastlake CA standout Jalyn Jackson nearly became the 12th male athlete in meet history to surpass 50 feet in the triple jump last season, winning with an effort of 49-10.25 (15.19m), Fort Collins CO senior Allam Bushara has the potential to achieve the feat Saturday.

Bushara won the Colorado 5A state championship last season with a leap of 49-9.25 (15.17m) and has twice surpassed 49 feet in his career.

Although he placed seventh at last year’s event, he returns as the favorite, ready to compete against seven California athletes who have surpassed 47 feet this season.

Upland junior Namir Hemphill and Point Loma senior Altan Mitchell, who have both soared past 48 feet this season, are also capable of producing personal bests and winning the competition.

Mater Dei CA senior Titan Ruotolo also returns after placing eighth last year, with St. Mary’s Berkeley CA junior Malcolm Clemons deciding to focus on the triple jump after placing second last season in the long jump.

There hasn’t been a 50-foot triple jump since 2015 and only four achieved in the past two decades at Arcadia.

The meet record still belongs to Olympic silver medalist and World Indoor gold medalist Will Claye, who jumped 51-7.50 (15.73m) competing for Mountain Pointe AZ in 2008.

Baton bragging rights

Florida and Texas currently dominate the national leaders in the 4x100 relay, but several California programs have a chance to elevate among some of the most impressive performances in meet history Saturday.

Long Beach Poly is the only California program ranked in the top 10 in the country, with Kenyon Reed, Kejuan Markham, Anthony Johnson and Keon Markham having clocked 40.91 seconds to place third in its section March 30 at the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

Clovis North, Rancho Cucamonga and Monterey Trail have all run under 42 seconds this season and are motivated to challenge the Jackrabbits. Upland CA also boasts a talented quartet, with Valor Christian CO the only entry outside of the host state scheduled to compete in the invitational section.

Long Beach Poly has produced three of the meet’s top 10 all-time efforts, including a 40.46 from 1999 that ranks second only to the record 40.28 run by Muir CA in 1997.

Cubs chasing challenging 4x800 mark

When Loyola CA ran 7:40.67 in the 4x800-meter relay to place fifth last year at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, not only did that performance elevate the Cubs to No. 7 in state history, but it also gave them inspiration to challenge for the Arcadia meet record this season.

With Konnor Paris, Mason Ratkovich and Anthony Stone all returning from that lineup, Loyola is motivated Friday to challenge the 2003 mark of 7:42.36 set by Long Beach Poly CA, when it held off Murrieta Valley in 7:42.99 for the meet’s all-time top two performances.

Loyola will have plenty of competition, with Jesuit CA, St. Francis Mountain View CA, Great Oak CA, Dana Hills CA and Highland AZ all fielding formidable lineups, in addition to the presence of New York programs St. Joseph by the Sea and Syosset. Also scheduled to compete is Passaic NJ, featuring reigning New Balance Nationals Outdoor 800 champion Luis Peralta.

A new dynamic in the DMR

For the past 12 years, California has ruled the boys distance medley relay at the annual event, with Bellarmine Prep, Dana Hills, Great Oak, La Sierra, Redondo Union, Trabuco Hills and Vista Murrieta all capturing championships.

Although Davis UT and Glacier Peak WA will attempt to end that streak, there are other California programs with the potential to add their name to the prestigious list, most notably West Ranch.

With the addition of junior 400-meter runner Solomon Strader, a transfer from Trinity Classical Academy, the Wildcats will have the strongest second leg in the entire relay.

Strader’s presence, combined with seniors Evan Bates and Isaiah Seidman expected to leadoff and anchor the relay, not only gives West Ranch a chance to secure the victory, but potentially challenge the nation-leading 10:13.58 produced by Jesuit CA on March 29 at the Stanford Invitational.

Great Oak, the defending champion, boasts an experienced lineup, with Dana Hills, St. Francis Mountain View, Loyola, Long Beach Poly and Roosevelt also expected to be in contention.

New memories to be made in the mile

With eight of the 11 entries from last year having graduated, one competing earlier in the day, another focusing only on relays and defending champion Cruz Culpepper of Niwot CO switching his focus Saturday to the 3,200 meters, the slate in the invitational mile has been wiped completely clean this season, creating the opportunities for new stars to emerge.

Dublin CA junior Chris Middleton-Pearson, the winner of the rising stars mile last year, has elevated to the invitational section, along with Crescenta Valley CA junior Dylan Wilbur and Aliso Niguel CA junior Ben McKenna.

But there are several seniors who are motivated to capture an Arcadia championship in their final appearance, including Campo Verde AZ star Rylan Stubbs, Long Beach Poly CA standout William Frankenfeld and JSerra CA talent Anthony Grover, along with Chase Rivera of The Bolles School FL, Sam Rivera of Whitney Young IL, Dalton Brems of American Fork UT and Dana Hills CA teammates Garrett Hough and Cole Stark.

One potential sleeper in the field is Bakersfield Stockdale CA junior Adham Maher, who has demonstrated impressive closing speed on several occasions this season and could prevail in a tactical race.

Air Academy senior Cal Banta will attempt to make it three consecutive mile victories for Colorado after Isaac Green of Monarch won in 2017 and Culpepper prevailed last season.