Return of annual event, usually held at Azusa Pacific, showcases familiar depth in 800s, exciting finishes in 1,600s and dominant performances in 3,200s, also serving as tuneup for Arcadia Invitational at same venue May 7-8

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Chuck Utash

The return of the Meet of Champions Distance Classic following a one-year absence as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic showcased several rising stars in California, but also provided a reminder Saturday night of the strength of multiple veterans, including the most dominant senior in the state this season in Crescenta Valley’s Mia Barnett.

Although the event was moved from its usual site of Azusa Pacific University to Arcadia High, there was the usual exceptional depth across each event, highlighted by the Virginia-bound Barnett clocking a meet-record 2 minutes, 7.31 seconds in the 800 meters.

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Barnett has also run 4:43.11 in the mile – including a 4:41.32 split in the 1,600 – along with 9:52.23 in the 3,200 in the past two months, and now ranks in the top three in the country this year in all four events.

Mira Costa junior Dalia Frias followed in a personal-best 2:10.44, with La Canada teammates Ellaney Matarase (2:12.43) and Arielle McKenzie (2:13.57) taking third and fourth.

Golden Valley senior Antonio Abrego approached his 800 race with the same aggressive tactics as Barnett, leading from wire to wire to lower his own state lead with a 1:52.05 effort, elevating to the No. 8 prep competitor in the nation this season.

Pasadena junior Isaiah Givens added a 1:53.01 performance to his resume, also running a 4:08.43 mile – with a 4:07.06 split in the 1,600 – and an 8:59.64 mark in the 3,200 in the past two months.

Sanger’s Emanuel Salas (1:53.35) and Great Oak’s Mateo Joseph (1:53.63) ascended to the third and fourth spots in the state this season.

Laguna Beach senior Mateo Bianchi rallied in the final lap of the 1,600 to surge past Newbury Park sophomore Lex Young by a 4:11.82 to 4:12.66 margin. Great Oak’s Austin Montez took third in 4:13.56.

Leo Young, Lex’s twin brother at Newbury Park, ran a personal-best 9:03.38 to win the 3,200, with fellow sophomore Christopher Caudillo of Clovis finishing second in 9:08.63.

Redlands East Valley junior Matthew Hornung took third in 9:14.92.

The most exciting finish to a race at the event came in the girls 1,600, with Great Oak senior Brianna Weidler edging Valencia senior Sydney Makar by a 4:59.28 to 4:59.37 margin.

Saugus senior Hannah Fredericks, coming off a 4:29.66 performance in the 1,500 against college and professional athletes April 17 at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific, accelerated in the second half Saturday of the 3,200 to run a personal-best 10:29.33, improving to No. 4 in the state this season.

Sierra Burror of Bishop Union improved her personal best by more than three seconds to take runner-up in 10:54.19.

Mira Costa’s Ella Parsley ran 11:02.78 to place third and Clovis’ Emma Ruvalcaba finished fourth in 11:10.20.

The event also served as a dress rehearsal for the return of the Arcadia Invitational on May 7-8 at the renovated Arcadia High facility.