More than 3,300 student-athletes representing 170 schools scheduled to participate in biggest collection of prep distance competitors in the country at two-day showcase in Northern California, which has added 4x800 to go along with DMR races

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The largest distance-only high school track meet in the country has only continued to grow this season and the 15th edition of the Dublin Distance Fiesta has not only reached 170 schools competing, but is expected to showcase 3,346 student-athletes participating Friday and Saturday at Dublin High in California.

For the first time in meet history, the 4x800-meter relay has been added to the schedule and will be showcased Friday night, following several sections of the 3,200 meters.

The Saturday schedule again features the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, as well as the distance medley relay for both genders.

Returning girls winners from last year include Santa Rosa Montgomery sophomore Hanne Thomsen in the 3,200 and Monte Vista senior Cate Peters in the 800, as well as Tamalpais in the DMR.

Mateo Malko-Allen of St. Mary’s Berkeley is the defending boys champion in the 1,600, with Bellarmine College Prep pursuing a repeat in the DMR.

Thomsen, who placed second in the 2-mile championship race March 10 in 10:07.06 at New Balance Nationals Indoor at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, is entered in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Thomsen set the 3,200 meet record last year by clocking 10:14.46, in addition to finishing second in the 1,600 in 4:49.02.

Thomsen has the potential to eclipse both records after running 4:45.51 last year in the 1,600 and producing a 10:04.12 split for 3,200 during her 2-mile effort in Boston.

Riley Chamberlain of Del Oro, a freshman qualifier in the mile for Brigham Young at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships in New Mexico, produced the 1,600 meet record last year by clocking 4:46.34.

Peters, who won the 800 last season in 2:11.45, is targeting the 2018 standard of 2:08.99 established by former San Ramon California standout and current Sacramento State athlete Alyssa Brewer.

Peters placed ninth in the 400 meters in 56.39 on March 11 at the Nike Indoor Nationals at The Armory in New York.

She achieved an 800 personal-best 2:06.89 last year at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut.

Malko-Allen ran 4:14.55 to triumph last year in the 1,600, along with finishing second in the 800 in 1:54.49.

He is entered in both events again, aiming for the meet records of 1:52.34 in the 800 achieved last season by Yutaka Roberts from San Francisco El Camino – a freshman at Portland – as well as the 1,600 standard of 4:09.95 established in 2021 by Ajani Salcido of Carmichael Jesuit, now a UCLA sophomore, at the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta event.

The boys 3,200 record and both DMR all-time marks are among the most impressive in the meet’s history.

Jesuit graduate Matt Strangio, now competing at Portland, boasts the 3,200 standard of 8:47.97 from 2019.

Davis Senior has held the boys DMR record of 10:23.93 since 2016, the oldest of the all-time marks.

Santa Cruz produced the girls DMR record of 12:07.58 in 2018.

Following a year without a sub-9 performance in the boys 3,200, there is another strong field motivated to eclipse the barrier, with Sean Morello of Albany the top returning athlete from last season after securing sixth overall.

Morello went on to run 9:00.27 at the Arcadia Invitational last year.

He is expected to be joined in the 3,200 field by Sacramento Country Day’s Andrew Burr, Concord De La Salle’s Trey Caldwell, Ponderosa’s Josh Chu, Larkspur Redwood’s Daegan Cutter, Oakdale’s Dax Daley, Montgomery’s Jude DeVries, Granada’s Dheeraj Gurusamy and Roland Ruckmann-Barnes, Sonora’s Broen Holman, College Park’s Alex Lamoureux, Campolindo’s Alexander Lodewick, Monte Vista’s Ethan Miller, Davis Senior’s Ryan Mitchell and Menlo School’s Landon Pretre.

Thomsen is scheduled to be joined in the girls 3,200 by members of Campolindo’s HOKA Postal Nationals championship lineup Ellie Buckley and Shea Volkmer, Scotts Valley’s Ashlyn Boothby, Branson’s Adeline Johnson, Rocklin Whitney’s Katie Kopec, Archbishop Mitty’s Evie Marheineke, McClatchy’s Anna McNatt, Sonoma Academy’s Athena Ryan, Martinez Alhambra’s Renae Searls and Nevada standouts Amaya Aramini from Bishop Manogue and Eleanor Raker of Galena.

Peters is hoping to square off against College Park’s Jessica Chisar, Davis Senior’s Norah Dulaney, Tamalpais’ Emma Gardner and Sacramento St. Francis’ Kayla Towne in the girls 800, with Malko-Allen matching up against Menlo School teammates Justin Pretre and Aiden Deffner, Dougherty Valley’s Shane Badcock, Madera South’s Isaac Chavez and San Jose Pioneer’s Carson Hedlund.

Prospect’s Kylie Hoornaert and Oak Ridge’s Quinn Walker are entered in the girls 1,600, along with Aramini, Boothby, Johnson, Kopec, Marheineke, Raker, Ryan, Searls and Thomsen.

Oakland College Prep’s Talia Green, who won the Nike Indoor Nationals title in the mile racewalk March 12 in New York, is entered in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

Sonoma Academy’s Tiernan Colby, Oakland Tech’s Miles Jones, Jesuit’s Brandon Moreno, Nevada Union’s Wesley Selby and Los Gatos’ Aydon Stefanopoulos are all expected to compete in the boys 1,600, along with DeVries, Malko-Allen and Mitchell.

Campolindo, Monte Vista and Crystal Springs Uplands are joining reigning champion Tamalpais in the girls DMR. Bellarmine Prep will attempt to secure another victory in the boys DMR against a field that includes Campolindo, College Park, Davis Senior, Concord De La Salle, Matilda Torres, Sonoma Academy and Yosemite.

With the addition of the 4x800 relay to the California state meet schedule this season, also comes the opportunity to be crowned the inaugural champions in the event as the featured races Friday night.

Menlo won the title Feb. 4 in 7:56.14 at the California Winter Outdoor Championships at Arcadia High and does have a lineup entered in the boys race.

Amador Valley, Davis Senior and Santa Rosa Montgomery are all potential contenders in the girls race.